Along with six other teams including the men's squad, the Women's Open team is set to compete in their fifth consecutive Touch World Cup - and the challenges have only motivated them more
A palpable buzz is once again sweeping through Singapore Sports Hub. The HSBC Rugby Sevens (HSBC SVNS) is set to take the Singapore National Stadium by storm once again - but this year will see even more excitement than before. With Singapore being the final stop in the tour this time, the winners of the men’s and women’s HSBCS SVNS league will be crowned under the lights of Singapore National Stadium.
Rugby Sevens is a 7-a-side game and is just one of the many variants of rugby - which is also branched into rugby league and rugby union.
One particular variant that stands out in Singapore however, is touch rugby. The game is not only popular amongst Singaporeans, but we also happen to be very good at it.
So much so that Team Singapore’s touch rugby teams have regularly featured and medalled in the Touch World Cup - and they are bound for the world stage once again this year.
The contingent will boast an impressive array of seven teams, encompassing not only the men’s and women’s open squads but also those of various age groups - which includes the men's 40s and 50s.
Coming around every four years, the Singapore Touch Women’s Open team has been competing in the Federation of International Touch (FIIT) Touch World Cup since 2003 - and they have made it to at least the quarter finals every edition. In 2011 and 2015, they finally broke through to the podium, earning two consecutive bronze medals before falling short and finishing fourth in 2019.
One of the most senior players on the team, Jazreel Tan has featured in all three world cups since their first medal in 2011. Looking ahead to the tournament in July, Jazreel is adamant on a good campaign despite a tough 2023.
“We had plenty of defeats in 2023 and it was painful,” she reflects. “Nothing is guaranteed at a World Cup. I believe we want to be able to compete, like everyone else. Other teams are in good shape and we know that more is required from each of us to get to the next level.”
In the run-up to the World Cup, Singapore played host to England Women’s Open and 27s in exhilarating friendly matches. Venturing overseas, they also took to Hong Kong and Australia - where they competed in the New South Wales State Championships. The young team honed their skills, solidified new positions, and fine-tuned strategic maneuvers.
Jazreel has described the lead up to the tournament as one of the “most challenging campaigns on and off the field”, but to them, adversity was fuel.
“The pressure has been immense. On the other hand, I have also seen how everyone came together collectively to want to overcome these hurdles,” she explains.
“As cliche as it sounds, I think the best part of the journey is the journey itself! Every up and down has brought out the worst and also the best in me. It’s been trying times but I’m so grateful.”
Not recognised as a National Sports Association (NSA), the team fundraised to send themselves up to Nottingham in the north of England. Their efforts included putting out a call for sponsors and designing tee shirts – which turned out to be a hit within the community.
"The management and the girls have all made personal sacrifices and dedicated all the time we could possibly do to make sure we can hit top gear in July. It is heart warming when everyone comes together to help and support one another, working towards the same goal."
With young blood coming in to replace retired veterans, teams are often revolving doors and it’s no different for the Women’s Open team. This year in particular, a string of young players have taken the step up, forming a younger team bound for the World Cup in July.
“I have to say the team is pretty hardy and resilient despite the relatively younger team compared to previous campaigns. They've really come a long way in the past year and we know we just have to keep trying to reach our fullest potential,” Jazreel shares.
She reflects on a mistake she made during her first year at the World Cup, a moment that still haunts her like a recurring nightmare. Yet, amidst the shadows of that memory, she clings dearly to the words of encouragement she received from the senior players at the time, a role she has since taken up.
Having a safe space to learn from mistakes is something she hopes to pass down to the younger ones on the team as she reflects on her past few World Cup campaigns.
“It’s a little poignant I guess. I look around now and I am no longer playing with the people that I started out the sport with, you know?” she says.
“On the flip side, I am also excited for new and young players to be able to experience the sport at the highest level and I am grateful to be able to be part of the squad to help make that transition.”
Set to take place during the height of an English summer in Nottingham, Singapore’s seven teams will take on giants such as Australia and New Zealand for the title of the best in the world.