London City 7s sign up Springbok-producing powerhouse varsity team
In less than a month a Springbok-producing university team will join Bordeaux at the London City 7s.
This Saturday the Greatest Rivalry resumes as New Zealand take on South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. It is the first time the All Blacks have undertaken a full tour of South Africa in 30 years. Up here we are in the domestic lull between the Nations Championship and Prem Rugby’s return. And you can feel the appetite for any form of rugby building with last week’s speculation about England’s young stars turning to sevens, Henry Pollock’s potential £1m pay cheque all symptoms of the same thing: boredom. It is fantastic kindling in the rumour mill, and Eddie Hearn is gasoline.
In this dip it is worth instead looking at what rugby is coming to Canada in less than a month’s time. In 29 days time, rugby sevens returns to the Square Mile. And I can confirm that a South African Varsity side, the University of Cape Town, is set to join the line-up; led by South African rugby legend Robbie Fleck, subject to backing from the City to get them here.
Known as the Ikey Tigers, they have been playing for more than 135 years and have produced over sixty Springboks, more than twenty of them currently professional. Eben Etzebeth joined them in 2011 after being turned down for a professional contract and won the Varsity Cup in his first season; Siya Kolisi was called up by the Stormers before his first game in a UCT jersey. No doubt their mix of heritage and future generational talent will make them a fierce challenger at the Honourable Artillery Company.
London City 7s fixtures bulking up
The field around them is already strong. Union Bordeaux-Begles, Investec Champions Cup holders and the first Top 14 club to build a professional sevens programme, meet the Barbarians on the main pitch. Nine teams in total: a mix of professional and historic clubs from around the world, and three UK invitational challengers. Three pools of three, two group games each, straight into the knockouts. One day, one pitch, no filler.
The London City 7s has been built to sit at the intersection of business and sport. Alongside rugby, the Sport x Business Conference will run from 9.30am at the Honourable Artillery Company, hosted by Heather Fisher OLY and Jim Hamilton. We are opening the floor to the City’s business leaders to join sporting legends on stage and discuss the conversations that go on behind the game that shape what happens on the pitch.
The tour that starts at Ellis Park this weekend finishes on 12 September. Five days later, the sevens starts here.
London City 7s takes place on 17 September at the Honourable Artillery Company. Tickets are £30 and on sale now at www.londoncity7s.com. Our last hospitality tent and a limited number of tables in the shared Pavilion remain; enquiries to [email protected].
Dan James is Director of the London City 7s.