A shorter, and potentially faster, format is in place for this year’s annual Orange City Rugby Invitational 10s competition.
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Tournament co-ordinator Fletcher Niven said each game would play eight-minute halves, down from the traditional 10-minute format that have been used in previous tournaments.
He said rest breaks between rounds had also been cut to keep the action flowing during the day.
“Players said to me they had played in other tens tournaments where they played six minutes a half which they said was great, but I thought, it is a pre-season competition, it was too short,” he said.
“So we had a small committee meeting and we’ve decided to go with eight [minutes].
“The whole idea is a pre-season hitout.”
This year’s tournament is on Saturday March 16 at Waratah Sports Ground.
Niven said there had been strong support from teams for the men’s competition where it is expected 16 teams will play, and for the Colts and Women’s competitions which are expected to have four teams each.
He said Orange City would have two teams, Forbes, Bathurst and Quirindi were expecting to play while Sydney teams Macquarie University and Briars were also on the list.
Niven said the defending champions Newcastle Wanderers were undecided about returning.
“They hope to come and defend their title,” he said.
And he said at least three invitational teams, the All-Stars, the Legends and the Island Boys, were expected to compete.
The whole idea is a pre-season hitout.
- Fletcher Niven, tournament co-ordinator
The Island Boys team is made up of union and league players of Pacific Island-heritage who live around the Orange region.
He said each team would play at least four games.
Niven said there were still vacancies for teams to enter with nominations closing on March 1.
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