The Rugby 7s competition is one of the most eagerly anticipated of the Commonwealth Youth Games. With the Isle of Man set to take on seven other national teams, preparation will include seven weekly competitions through the summer against the Island’s top adult teams in the newly refurbished Bowl, Douglas. The Rugby 7s tournament will be played for four hours each day on Saturday and Sunday, 11-12 September at the Bowl. The Manx side, all aged between 16 and 18 years, will take on Australia, England, Canada, South Africa, Scotland, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago. The games, played on the full size rugby pitch, will each last 14 minutes – seven minutes each way. Ian ‘Wagga’ Williams is the Rugby Development Officer at the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure’s Sports Development Unit. He explained: ‘Rugby 7s is a great spectator sport because it is a simplified and action packed variation of the sport. The shortened length of games provides a high pace and seeing different teams every 20 minutes is a great way to see various approaches to how to play the game. It’s also a good chance to spot the rugby stars of the future. For instance, England scrum half Danny Care took part in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo, Australia, in 2004. Most of the players involved will go on to play for their national side. ‘I am hopeful the Isle of Man side will be competitive. Where other teams have picked their players in the last few months, we started selection and training just over three years ago, and we’re now playing at quite a high level. We have 12 in the squad plus two reserves in case of injury. ‘Every Saturday between 9 July and 20 August, the team will play Island adult sides at the Bowl to try to give us a bit of an edge. Five of the Island team definitely want to pursue rugby as a career and this is a good opportunity with a strong possibility that scouts will attend the tournament.’ Hon David Cretney MHK, Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure, said: ‘Our track record speaks for itself in terms of encouraging people of all ages to take up sport varying from the hugely successful Manx Youth Games to community focused programmes such as Walk and Talk. My Department has also invested in sporting facilities such as the Bowl and the National Sports Centre, both of which will host the Commonwealth Youth Games. ‘Normally the Isle of Man is not classed as an international country in competitive rugby but we have been granted special permission to compete in the Rugby 7s as host nation. Rugby is now being played at all six secondary schools. It will no doubt have wide appeal across the community and I am sure will be one of the highlights of the Commonwealth Youth Games 2011.’ Tickets for the Commonwealth Youth Games are available from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal and the Villa Marina Reception or via the Ticketing Hotline on 01624 600555. Ticket prices range from ?6 to ?15 for events which take place between Wednesday 7 September and Sunday 10 September. With the exception of the swimming and gymnastics venues which have limited seating, concessions are available at all sporting events for children under 16 and senior citizens over 60 and also for disabled groups plus their carers. Rugby 7s tickets are still available, priced ?6.00 (uncovered seating) or ?10 (covered). Concessions available. The Isle of Man Rugby 7s team is captained by Liam Murphy (Ballakermeen High School) and includes players from across the Island. Squad players not in the photo: Nathan Pierce and reserves Shay Waterworth and Ben Sharples. ENDS