World Tens Series Preview

The inaugural World Tens Series event will kick off at the National Sports Centre in Bermuda on Sunday. With the World Sevens Series on hiatus, the ambitious venture has brought in a collection of talent from around the globe including a number of Major League Rugby standouts.

There have been no shortage of speed bumps in the buildup. Originally slated to feature eight teams, rigid COVID-19 protocols have forced a South American entry to drop out entirely and now the SX10 side has forfeited the opening weekend due to a positive test result.

Adding further complications, the Phoenix entry has been forced to summon a number of Bermudian internationals as stand-ins until a large South African contingent is cleared to play. Hurricane Epsilon also played its part, bumping the tournament start date ahead by one day.

 

FORMAT

The first two weekends will be played in round-robin format to determine seeding for Finals Day which is tabbed for November 7. Match points awarded will be 3 for a win, with bonus points available for scoring three tries or losing by less than three points.

As with traditional 10-a-side rugby halves will be 10 minutes each, but coaches may call one 45-second technical time out per game. There will be no draws, with games tied at full-time to be decided by kicks. Teams defeated in this fashion will be awarded a losing bonus point.

Substitutes will be rolling with a maximum of 16 players permitted on each game sheet. Yellow cards will be two minutes in length, while red cards will see the offending player ejected but the team will be allowed to bring on a new player after four minutes.

The scoring system used will be unique. Penalties and drop goals will be worth only two points, while the point of touchdown on tries will have no relevance. Instead conversions can be taken from any of five different spots with points awarded by difficulty up to a maximum of five.

 

TEAMS

 

ASIA PACIFIC DRAGONS

A mixed group with a lot of beef up front including several MLR standouts. There are internationals from New Zealand, Georgia, Fiji, Samoa, England, Tonga, and the USA in this squad. Eagles trio Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, Vili Toluta’u, and Thretton Palamo will be key figures.

FORWARDS
Dominic Akina (Austin Gilgronis), Chris Eves (Manawatu Turbos, NZ), Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (Old Glory DC), Alex Khutsishvili (Georgia 7s), Api Naikatini (Old Glory DC), Maikeli Naromaitoga (Austin Gilgronis), Lino Saunitoga (Kalihi Raiders), Fa’afetai Te’o (OMBAC), Vili Toluta’u (Seattle Seawolves), Miles Wakeling (London Scottish, UK)

BACKS
Tomasi Alosio (Samoa 7s), Tommy Bell (Ealing Trailfinders, UK), Rowan Gouws (unattached), Kurt Morath (Austin Gilgronis), Jerome Nale (Santa Rosa), Thretton Palamo (Old Glory DC), Jamil Robinson (Brooklyn Kings), Hemaua Samisoni (North Otago, NZ), Elden Schoeman (UP Tuks, SA), Nafi Tuitavake (Bulls, SA)

Head Coach: Toutai Kefu

 

LONDON ROYALS

As their name suggests, this roster has a very British feel. Several England 7s regulars are named including a pair of Great Britain Olympic stars in Tom Mitchell and Dan Norton. The Seawolves also make a strong contribution with Stephan Coetzee, Andrew Durutalo, Ross Neal, and David Busby all appearing in the 2020 MLR campaign.

FORWARDS
Aldo Campbell (Teachers RFC), Stephan Coetzee (Seattle Seawolves), Richard de Carpentier (England 7s), Andrew Durutalo (Seattle Seawolves), Collin Hughes (Tiger Rugby), Devante Onojaife (unattached), Sean McNulty (LA Giltinis), Ross Neal (Seattle Seawolves), Max Northcote-Green (unattached)

BACKS
JP Aguirre (Seattle Seawolves), Tom Bowen (England 7s), David Busby (Seattle Seawolves), Alex Davis (England 7s), Gio Douyon (404 Rugby), Zinzan Elan-Puttick (Austin Gilgronis), Tom Emery (England 7s), Ben Foden (Rugby United New York), James Haley (Tiger Rugby), Tom Mitchell (England 7s), Dan Norton (England 7s)

Head Coach: John Brake

 

MIAMI SUN

An entirely new entity created for this event, and who knows beyond? There is a strong MLR presence here with all but six players past, current, or future signings. Canadian internationals Josh Larsen and DTH van der Merwe are the most notable inclusions with rising RUNY star Troy Lockyear one to watch.

FORWARDS
Mike Brown (Dallas Jackals), Connor Buck (unattached), Matt Hughston (unattached), Moses Lalasava (Seattle RFC), Josh Larsen (New England Free Jacks), Anthony Parry (Rugby United New York), Marcus Satavu (Tiger Rugby), Luca Tani (LA Giltinis), Wesley Te’o (Belmont Shore), Will Vakalahi (Old Glory DC)

BACKS
Tyrie Allen (Tiger Rugby), Nick Boyer (LA Giltinis), Matthew Coore (Tiger Rugby), Janry du Toit (Peñarol, UR), Troy Lockyear (Rugby United New York), Mark O’Keeffe (Lansdowne RFC, IR), Joey Sok (Tiger Rugby), James Stokes (London Irish, UK), Nolan Tuamoheloa (Utah Warriors), DTH van der Merwe (LA Giltinis)

Head Coach: Russell Earnshaw

 

OHIO AVIATORS

The best-supported team from the 2016 PRO season makes a grand return. Could they be a future MLR franchise? Every man on his roster is either signed or linked to a team for the 2021 season. Possibly the pre-tourney favorites with talent from top to bottom. A late roster change has former SaberCats hooker Pat O’Toole coming in for Dylan Fawsitt.

FORWARDS
Kyle Baillie (NOLA Gold), Chris Baumann (Austin Blacks), Riekert Hattingh (Seattle Seawolves), Eric Howard (NOLA Gold), Spencer Krueger (New England Free Jacks), Pat O’Toole (Garryowen, IR), Paddy Ryan (unattached), John Sullivan (NOLA Gold), Moni Tonga’uiha (NOLA Gold), Brad Tucker (Seattle Seawolves)

BACKS
Bryce Campbell (Austin Gilgronis), Ben Cima (Seattle Seawolves), JP Eloff (NOLA Gold), Nick Feakes (NOLA Gold), Tiaan Loots (unattached), Will Magie (Austin Gilgronis), Shawn Riley (NOLA Gold), Cristian Rodriguez (Dallas Jackals), JP Smith (Seattle Seawolves), Shalom Suniula (Seattle Seawolves)

Head Coach: Taylor Howden

 

PHOENIX

A somewhat confusing squad said to represent the Middle East but instead loaded with South Africans. There are two separate rosters named with virtually their entire main squad unable to compete during the opening weekend due to COVID protocols. Filling in are some Bermudian national team players with five players borrowed from other entries.

FORWARDS – ROUND 1
James Annandale (Teachers RFC), Aldo Campbell (Teachers RFC / London Royals), Thomas Greenslade (Teachers RFC), Collin Hughes (Tiger Rugby / London Royals), Oscar Ouma (Kenya 7s / SX10), Darren Richardson (Teachers RFC), Trae Stevens (Renegades RFC)

FORWARDS – ROUND 2
Lewis Berg (Watsonians, UK), Aaron Brody (Southern Kings, SA), Denis Coulson (unattached), Aston Fortuin (Southern Kings, SA), Gareth Heidtmann (Southern Kings, SA), Patrick Holman (Hamilton RFC, SA), Jonas Mikalcius (London Scottish, UK), Dean Murphy (British Army, UK), Zygimantas Radzius (Lithuania 7s)

BACKS – ROUND 1
Scott Bickerstaff (Scotland 7s), Alex Brown (Renegades RFC), Robbie Chalmers (Heriot’s FP, UK), Dan Cole (Teachers RFC), Gio Douyon (404 Rugby / London Royals), James Haley (Tiger Rugby / London Royals), Tom Healy (Renegades RFC), Antonio Perinchief-Leader (Teachers RFC), John Poland (New England Free Jacks), Aki Raymond (Tiger Rugby), Mat Turner (Seattle Seawolves)

BACKS – ROUND 2
Harry Barlow (New England Free Jacks), Scott Bickerstaff (Scotland 7s), Robbie Chalmers (Heriot’s FP, UK), Carel Coetzee (Cheetahs, SA), Corey Jones (Austin Gilgronis), Andell Loubser (Southern Kings, SA), Edmund Ludick (Southern Kings, SA), Gavin Mills (Southern Kings, SA), John Poland (New England Free Jacks), Aki Raymond (Tiger Rugby), Josiah Twum-Boafo (Southern Kings, SA), Stefan Ungerer (Southern Kings, SA)

Head Coach: Braam van Straaten

 

RHINOS

Up to now an academy program in Southern California, the Rhinos are dipping their toes into senior rugby with a team featuring a mix of MLR standouts, American prospects, and three South African imports. US Eagles regular Mike Te’o captains the side with NOLA pair Julián Domínguez and Carl Meyer certain to feature prominently.

FORWARDS
Zach Bonte (Life West Gladiators), Cyrille Cama (Rhinos Academy), Luyolo Dapula (Southern Kings, SA), Christian Holmes (Heusenstamm Foxes), Tyler Fujimoto (Rhinos Academy), Conor Kindregan (New England Free Jacks), Will Leonard (Rugby United New York), Ollie Nott (Pacific Pride), Patrick Regan (UCLA), Jurie van Vuuren (Utah Warriors)

BACKS
Jake Campey (Westcliff RFC, UK), Jack Casey (Chicago Lions), Julián Domínguez (NOLA Gold), Jake Hidalgo (Chicago Lions), Aaron Matthews (Seattle Seawolves), Carl Meyer (NOLA Gold), Eric Naposki (UCLA), Jacques Rabe (Stellenbosch Academy, SA), Nick Taylor (Seattle Seawolves), Mike Te’o (Utah Warriors), Courtney Winnaar (Southern Kings, SA)

Head Coach: Ryno Combrinck

 

SX10

Highly touted given the number of World Sevens Series stars on the roster, this composite African entry has instead been sidelined on the opening weekend after one player returned a positive COVID test. Tournament organizers are confident they will be back in for the second round. If they do get the thumbs-up, look out for all-time sevens greats Cecil Afrika and Collins Injera.

FORWARDS
Willy Ambaka (Kenya 7s), Andrew Amonde (Kenya 7s), Tienie Burger (Southern Kings), Cory Daniel (Old Glory DC), Frikkie de Beer (Utah Warriors), Marzuq Maarman (Real Oviedo), Harry McNulty (Ireland 7s), Oscar Ouma (Kenya 7s), Gary Porter (Ikey Tigers), Thinus van Zyl (Stellenbosch Academy)

BACKS
Cecil Afrika (San Diego Legion), Christian Ambadiang (Southern Kings), Oscar Dennis (Kenya 7s), JP du Plessis (NOLA Gold), Craig Hunt (Austin Blacks), Collins Injera (Kenya 7s), JT Jackson (Southern Kings), Dewald Naude (Maties), Luke Treharne (Wales 7s), Connor Wallace-Sims (Rugby United New York)

Head Coach: Frankie Horne

 

BROADCASTS

Games will be broadcast on Sky Sports Arena and the Sky Sports YouTube channel for those in the UK and Ireland. ESPN+ will be available for those in the USA, the ESPN App in Brazil, ESPN Play in Latin America and the Caribbean, and ESPN in sub-Saharan Africa.

 

ROUND 1 FIXTURES

 

SUNDAY OCTOBER 25

PT	ET	LOCAL	TEAM 1	TEAM 2
07:00	10:00	11:00	Miami Sun	London Royals
07:30	10:30	11:30	Phoenix	Ohio Aviators
08:00	11:00	12:00	Asia Pacific Dragons	Rhinos
09:30	12:30	13:30	Ohio Aviators	Rhinos
10:00	13:00	14:00	Phoenix	Miami Sun
10:30	13:30	14:30	London Royals	Asia Pacific Dragons
12:00	15:00	16:00	Phoenix	Rhinos
12:30	15:30	16:30	Ohio Aviators	London Royals
13:00	16:00	17:00	Miami Sun	Asia Pacific Dragons

 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 26

PT	ET	LOCAL	TEAM 1	TEAM 2
06:00	09:00	10:00	Rhinos	Miami Sun
06:30	09:30	10:30	Ohio Aviators	Asia Pacific Dragons
07:00	10:00	11:00	London Royals	Phoenix
08:00	11:00	12:00	Miami Sun	Ohio Aviators
08:30	11:30	12:30	Phoenix	Asia Pacific Dragons
09:00	12:00	13:00	Rhinos	London Royals