SEA 7s 2023 Teams and Pools Confirmed

Singapore Rugby Union have finally confirmed the nations and pools for the SEA 7s 2023 which will take place the same weekend as the HSBC Singapore Sevens. There are four national women’s and six men’s teams playing.

Updated 5th April

Although the actual SEA Games take place in Cambodia in 2023 (for the first time), rugby is not one of the participating sports. With the sport also not included when Vietnam hosted the SEA Games last time, it means the unions have lost potential funding and tournament experience.

Thailand (2025), Malaysia (2027) and Singapore (2029) have been confirmed as future SEA Games hosts and the likelihood of rugby 7s being included  (and essential funding for the sport) will be a welcome relief.

11 countries participate in SEA Games: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.

Straits Times reported SRU vice-president Martin Williams as saying “We have a plan and structure in place, our ultimate goal is to target the SEA Games and Asian Games, it is great to see the progress we have made since 2019.”

Photo Credit – Thai Rugby Union – Thailand 7s Rugby women and men – SEA 7s 2023

Singapore National team coach Suhaimi Amran added: “Having an international competition on top of the existing structure is always great for developing both the team and individual players. This is especially critical in our objective of developing teams that can win at regional levels. Having a home tournament of such a level can only aid us in preparations for major Games like the SEA and Asian Games.”

The PRFU have sent what they have dubbed the “Philippine Rising Stars” for the women and men – a development pathway program under PRFU’s National Teams. The Rising Stars men’s and women’s teams are composed of local-based players selected from the High-Performance Program 7s (HPP 7s) of the PRFU to “provide more opportunities for them to hone their skills through international exposure to high-level matches across Southeast Asia.”

SEA 7s 2023

Singapore Rugby Union announced online “Get ready for an action-packed weekend of rugby as we kick off the tournament on 7th April with group matches and semi-finals at Jurong West Stadium from 9 am to 6 pm. And don’t miss the finals happening on 8th April at the National Stadium.”

Lao Rugby has been running trials for the national election before announcing their final squads – it will be the first national 7s matches since pre-pandemic. They have had a Hong Kong coach help them prepare for the SEA 7s (from Kowloon Rugby Club). Elliott Quinton as acting Head Coach for Laos Rugby said “Coaching the Laos National Team is a great honour for me and so far I have loved every minute of it. We are a young squad full of enthusiasm and heart. Coaching a team that isn’t fluent in English comes with its challenges, however, I have a fantastic support team around me and combined with the willingness of the players, we are developing a fully competitive squad. We look forward to the South East Asian 7’s tournament in Singapore as it will be our first real opportunity to show what we are all about”.

See more about the HSBC Singapore Sevens 2023 here.

Confirmed Pools – SEA 7s 2023

Womens 7s Rugby

• Singapore
• Laos
• Thailand
• Philippines

The Philippines have sent what they have called their “Rising Stars” and have selected only locally based players to the SEA 7s in Singapore (for the women and men).

Thailand Women will be using the tournament to prepare for the Challenger Sevens event which takes place in April in South Africa. Many of the core squad members are already in South Africa with new interim coach Paul Delport and will not be playing the SEA 7s.

Mens 7s Rugby

Men’s Rugby 7s Pool A

How to Watch the SEA 7s 2023?

Singapore Rugby Union will have a live feed of the SEA 7s on Facebook which can be seen here.