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World's elite clubs to clash in Singapore
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-06 16:08 SINGAPORE - Powerhouses from international club rugby will clash in Singapore next year for the inaugural World Club Challenge, organisers said on Thursday.
English premiership clubs Gloucester and Saracens, together with Australian Super 14 side Western Force and a yet-to-be named French club will meet in the battle of the hemispheres for the WCC Cup, former England player Phil Greening told Reuters. The challenge is the brainchild of retired Wasps hooker Greening, who toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 2001. The July 2009 clashes will take place downtown at Singapore's famous cricket club and Greening said the event is planned to be hosted by Singapore for at least the next five years. "This will be the first time professional clubs with world-class players such as Mike Tindall, Chris Jack and Matt Giteau have played in Singapore," Greening said. "It is a great opportunity to bring a world-class rugby event to Asia... with the historic Padang as the backdrop, the World Club Challenge will have something for everyone." The challenge will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world, where clubs from across the globe compete in one tournament in the full 15 a-side game, organisers said. Singapore sports minister Teo Ser Luck welcomed the groundbreaking event. "This is certainly another notch in Singapore's efforts in becoming a sports hub in the Asia Pacific Region," he told reporters. "As Singapore continues to attract a growing number of major sporting events, including the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race and Youth Olympic Games 2010, we look forward to having the World Club Challenge as another addition to our sporting calendar." The clubs are due to arrive in the south-east Asian city-state on July 24 and the World Club Challenge is scheduled to last one week. Greening said in future years the event would feature European and Super 14 champions by invitation. |
