Singapore set to host more top-class rugby action
(From L-R): Dominic McKay, Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Rugby Union, Low Teo Ping, Chairman, Rugby Singapore, Luigi Troiani, Manager, Italian National Team at the media conference to announce details of the Italy vs Scotland international Test match at the National Stadium on June 10. Photo by Low Lin Fhoong
SINGAPORE – The likes of Scottish scrum-half Greig Laidlaw and Sergio Parisse of Italy are set to get fans’ pulses racing here on June 10, as Italy and Scotland face off in a first-ever international test at the National Stadium.
And rugby fans here and in the region can expect even more goodies in the future, with Rugby Singapore – the commercial and events arm of the Singapore Rugby Union (SRU) – promising more top-flight action from some of the world’s best rugby teams in the next few years.
Low Teo Ping, Chairman of Rugby Singapore said on Friday (April 7) that the Italy-Scotland match-up is just a precursor of what fans can expect in the future as Rugby Singapore targets more top-flight teams by capitalising on the Republic’s prime location and infrastructure ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Tokyo.
“This match is definitely a precursor to many more to come,” said Teo in a media conference at the Ital Auto Ferrari showroom on Friday.
“We are excited to host this match… this can help grow rugby in South-east Asia and it’s going to be fantastic to help the sport grow in this part of the world.
“We are looking at another test in December with one team from the Northern Hemisphere, and one from the Southern Hemisphere.”
David Mundell, Member of Parliament and Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “This is not only great news for fans of rugby in Scotland and Italy, but also for the large number of expat supporters of rugby here and followers of rugby in the rest of South-east Asia.
“This is an exciting opportunity to showcase Scottish sport and Scottish interests to the region, and is certainly a great way of bringing countries together and getting young people worldwide involved in sport.”
In another exciting development, Six Nations champions England (below. Photo: Reuters) could also make a pit stop here ahead of the Japan World Cup, as Low shared that head coach Eddie Jones had initially planned a trip to Singapore last year as part of his preparations for the tournament.
Low added: “We also play an important part in the 2019 Rugby World Cup and we are talking to them (the teams). This match will be a catalyst for other teams to think about being in Singapore…we are well located, and they can get over their jet lag here.”
While Hong Kong and Dubai are also popular destinations for rugby teams coming through the region, representatives from the Scottish Rugby Union and the Italian national team said Singapore was an attractive option for their teams.
World No 5 side Scotland, led by new head coach Gregor Townsend, will play here as part of their summer tour which will also see them travelling to Sydney and Suva for tests against Australia and Fiji on June 17 and June 24 respectively.
Italy, ranked 15th in the world, will play Fiji on June 17, before travelling to Brisbane to take on two-time world champions Australia on June 24.
Dominic McKay, chief operating officer of the Scottish Rugby Union, pointed to two factors that gave Singapore the winning edge over other cities in the region: its sporting infrastructure, and the Scottish Rugby Union’s goal to globalise its brand, particularly in the region.
“Singapore has outstanding, world-class facilities, we got to tour the National Stadium this morning and it is outstanding,” said McKay.
“We are also very keen to globalise the brand and talk positively about Scotland and the United Kingdom through rugby.
“It’s also very fun to be doing something unique, to be the first Tier 1 unions to play in Singapore, to share some fun with the audience.”
Luigi Troiani, manager of the Italian national team, hinted that his side could return after its June fixture, as he said: “There is a good opportunity for teams to play here in 2019 as it is the right point to go to prepare the team.
“It’s an opportunity to get over jet lag and prepare better. This could be a base before we go to the Rugby World Cup.”
It will be a busy season of rugby at the National Stadium in the upcoming months, with the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens to be held next weekend, Super Rugby action between the Sunwolves and Sharks on May 20, followed by the international test between Italy and Scotland on June 10.
With more rugby fixtures expected on the horizon, Low said events such as the international tests, which the SRU will receive sanctioning fees for, will help the rugby union in its goal to become the first national sports association to become financially independent. In January, the SRU revealed that Rugby Singapore had received an S$1 million investment from a company.
Low believes the sport, and the SRU, have a bright future ahead, as he added: “Once you have a reputation of having hosted matches of that stature, people notice you and talk to you. We have developed that reputation, infrastructure.
“Hong Kong is definitely a much more mature market, and this match going there will probably get more people.
“But again, we have tremendous opportunity to build. We have our own DNA, and we now have a reputation of being able to organise events of this nature.”
Ticket details for the Scotland-Italy test will be released at a later date. Visit www.singaporerugby.com for more information.
