1st World University Rugby 7 Championship
Beijing, China - September 15th to 18th, 2004
Inaugural Championship
The Chinese offered us a unique and impressive show, combining folklore and modernity, that our athletes will never forget.
Dr. Ralethe Malumbete, FISU Assessor presented Mr. Yang Liguo, Secretary-General of the Chinese University Sport Federation with the FISU plate
Rugby 7 in Beijing
If there is a discipline that really belongs to the tradition of university sports, it is rugby. Having originated in Great Britain in 1823, Rugby developed rapidly within universities. It is currently acknowledged as the second most popular ball sport. FISU has granted its patronage to thee previous World University Cups in 15 a side rugby. This time, however, rugby sevens made its début in the sports programme of the FISU World University Championships. Played in teams of 7, this sport is distinctive because it is easier to organise than its 15 a side counterpart. For the same reason it is easier for countries that are emerging as rugby nations, to acquire a record of achievement in Rugby 7.
It is not by chance that a city such as Beijing bid successfully for the organisation of the first edition of this Championship. In fact, since the beginning of the 1990s, as a consequence of the growth in the number of enthusiasts, rugby has been developing in China to such an extent that many university rugby associations have been formed there. Beijing also has excellent experience in the organisation of international sports events. The city will stage the Olympic Games in 2008 it previously organised the Asian Games in 1999 and, of course, the Universiade in 2001. Everyone remembers the superb Universiade held in great splendour in Beijing.
Men's Finals: FRA vs TPE
The Agricultural University
For this first edition, the participants again received a very warm welcome. The Agricultural University did not do things by half and its Rector, Mr Zhanglian Chen, who was also President of the Organising Committee, supplied all his support and savoir-faire as well as a mass of volunteers. The logistical aspects of the championship were simplified significantly by the centralisation of the accommodation and the competition sites on the campus. The Opening Ceremony took place in the context of the celebrations of the beginning of the academic year in China. Consequently, there were approximately 8 000 persons in the stadium to greet the university rugby teams.
Women's Finalists: Team Canada
Mr Zhanglian Chen gave a very warm speech in which he emphasised the importance of this event for the promotion of rugby in China. Mr Ralethe then took the floor. After saying some words in Chinese, he thanked the organisers for their work and reminded the participants that they were the ambassadors of their own country in China, but that upon returning home they would become the ambassadors of the city of Beijing… Mr Ralethe Mulumbate then invited the Vice-Minister for Education, Mr Qinping Zhao to officially open the First World University Rugby 7 championship. The Chinese offered us a unique and impressive show, combining folklore and modernity, that our athletes will never forget.
The competitions started that same afternoon with China beating Malaysia in the women’s match. It must be underlined that the opening and closing ceremonies as well as many of the matches were broadcast live on the national sports channel CCTV4.
Women's Finals: CAN vs KAZ
France and Canada
The tournament was superb and of an excellent standard, even though there were disparities between the participating teams. In the men’s competition, for example, the four leading teams (FRA, TPE, RUS, ESP) were in a class above the others, while, for the women, no other team could come close to Canada and Kazakhstan. An impressive crowd came to watch the finals on the last day of competition, evidence of the public’s interest in this sport. Having played extremely well against the other teams, Kazakhstan was however, powerless faced with the formidable Canadian team. Canada pocketed the women’s final with a crushing victory of 27-5 over Kazakhstan. Russia finished third.
Men's Finalists: Team France
The men’s final revealed the skilful tactical playing of the French team. The French players took all possible steps to prevent their opponents, the Chinese Taipei players, from developing their game. The score of 24 to 5 for the French was a good reflection of their obvious superiority. Russia took the bronze medal. Mr Jamie Scott, Honorary Secretary General of the International Rugby Union for Asia emphasised the quality of the matches and the excellent technical level attained by the Organising Committee. We’ll meet again in 2006 when the next World University Rugby Sevens championship will be held in Rome (ITA).
Organizing Committee
Federation of University Sport of China Damucang Hutong, 35 - Xidan Beijing 100816 - China phone: (86.10)64802042 / 838 fax: (86.10)64802046
Ranking
Men 1. FRA 2. TPE 3. RUS 4. ESP 5. CHN 1 6. THA 7. MAS 8. CHN 2 Women 1. CAN 2. KAZ 3. RUS 4. CHN 1 5. CHN 2 6. THA
Game Results
1 - MEN A - CHN1 VS MAS (36-10) 2 - WOMEN B - CAN VS RUS (33-00) 3 - MEN A - FRA VS THA (38-7) 4 - WOMEN A - CHN1 VS THA (15-5) 5 - MEN B - CHN2 VS ESP (26-0) 6 - MEN B - TPE VS RUS (19-10) 7 - MEN A - CHN1 VS THA (19-7) 8 - MEN B - CHN2 VS RUS (7-29) 9 - MEN A - FRA VS MAS (27-0) 10 - MEN B - TPE VS ESP (15-14) 11 - WOMEN A - KAZ VS THA (41-0) 12 - WOMEN B - CHN2 VS RUS (5-15) 13 - MEN A - CHN1 VS FRA (7-22) 14 - MEN B - CHN2 VS TPE (0-33) 15 - MEN A - THA VS MAS (14-8) 16 - MEN B - RUS VS ESP (17-5) 17 - WOMEN A - CHN1 VS KAZ (0-29) 18 - WOMEN B - CHN 2 VS CAN (20-0) 19 WOMEN THA VS CHN2 (7-5 ) 20 WOMEN KAZ VS RUS (5-17) 21 WOMEN CAN VS CHN1 (41-0) 22 MEN FRA VS CHN 2 (36-0) 23 MEN TPE VS MAS (49-0) 24 MEN CHN1 VS ESP (10-5) 25 MEN RUS VS THA (7-33) 26 MEN semi-final THA VS CHN2 (24-10) 27 MEN semi-final CHN1 VS MAS (52-0) 28 MEN semi-final FRA VS RUS (26-00) 29 MEN semi-final TPE VS ESP (15-12) 30 WOMEN 5th-6th CHN2 VS THA (10-5) 31 WOMEN 3rd-4th RUS VS CHN1 (22 :5) 32 FINAL WOMEN KAZ VS CAN (5-27) 33 MEN 7th-8th MAS VS CHN (10-7) 34 MEN 5th-6th CHN1 VS THA (43-5) 35 MEN 3rd-4th ESP VS RUS (7-10) 36 FINAL MEN FRA VS TPE (24-5)
Results - Downloads
Ranking
