FURIOUS 5S BEACH RUGBY FESTIVAL RETURNS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HSBC SVNS SINGAPORE

Fans of the novel rugby format tackle the sand and sea as Furious 5s Beach Rugby Festival returns on 1 May 2024 at Sentosa Siloso Beach. Organised by B.A.C and in partnership with World Rugby, the rugby tournament will feature diversity among the self-organised teams across seven categories, including U19 and U16 for boys and girls, an open category for men and women, as well as a masters category for men. 

The festival aims to bring the community together to enjoy the spirit of the game in a 5-a-side format. The tournament component of the festival will include local and regional teams, each showcasing their core game skills and battling it out for the championship title. All games will be played according to World Rugby Leisure Rugby Laws, with variations that include tackle, ruck, rolling subs, and drawbreakers. With each match lasting for 8 minutes, with 1 minute and a half breaks in between, the excitement and energy of the event will be unparalleled.

"The Furious 5s Beach Rugby Festival is a fun and exciting way to enjoy the sport and a great platform for promoting inclusivity and accessibility in rugby. Besides creating participation opportunities for girls and women, by reducing the technical aspects of the game, we also hope to make rugby more approachable to those who may not have played before or who may not have had the chance to do so. Furthermore, we believe that this event will foster camaraderie and meaningful connections within the community among all attendees," says Madeleine Lim, the President of B.A.C. 

This is also the first time the HSBC SVNS, set to take place this year from 3 to 5 May, at the National Stadium, will see a full combination of men's and women's series aligned with the Olympic competition model. This marks a significant milestone for the Singapore rugby community, following the announcement of a new framework for the future of the Sevens World Series by World Rugby last year. 

Co-Chair of Singapore Rugby Union's Women's Development Committee, Samantha Teo, shares, "We are excited that audiences can now expect to see the inclusion of women's fixtures in Singapore SVNs. This will inspire more girls and women to take up rugby in Singapore and beyond and encourage female athletes to strive to compete at the highest level. This facet of the series will undoubtedly enhance the development of rugby, and we look forward to welcoming the world's best rugby sevens players to Singapore for an unforgettable sporting experience." 

Last year, B.A.C organised the successful beach rugby tournament, which gathered over 300 attendees with 35 teams across age genders, groups and open categories; players joined from local and international communities, including Japan, Malaysia, and Canada. The event celebrated the sport's inclusivity and diversity as players from various backgrounds gathered to enjoy the game in a relaxed and fun environment.

This initiative by the team is a testament to their dedication towards creating a more accessible rugby community.