Countdown Until 2020 World Tens Series in Bermuda

The World Tens Series will be held for three consecutive weekends in Bermuda commencing October 24 and concluding on November 7.

The international tournament includes talented rugby professionals throughout the world that are on the rosters of seven privately owned teams. “The World Tens Series is all about culture, the players, and the fans, and from 2021 the tournament will be expanded to include 16 teams playing in 12 different locations around the world throughout the season.”

Tiger Rugby has been at the forefront of exposing young, up and coming players to the highest level of competition at international tournaments since 2007. The World Tens Series has teamed with Carinat Sports Marketing, which is based in Asia with worldwide experience and a global network. The Carinat portfolio is now spread across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe & Africa, with locations in the world, such as Mauritius, Singapore, Stellenbosch, Dubai, and Hong Kong.

The World Tens Series organization comprises some of the best rugby minds in the industry. The leadership team consists of Chief Executive Officer Jon Phelps, Paul Holmes, who is the Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Business Development Officer James Walker.

“Jon Phelps has over 25 years of experience in sports marketing, sponsorship, and broadcast rights and he has worked in over 35 countries with many different cultures and nationalities.”

Paul Holmes is the co-founder of Tiger Rugby, a rugby academy in the USA which in partnership with IMG Academy offers rugby players the opportunity to tour the world and play rugby on their Combines Tour.

“James Walker is the co-founder of Tiger Rugby and he is a legend in world rugby and USA rugby circles. Walker is the most successful coach in the history of USA club rugby 7’s and from 2006-2012 he coached his Belmont Shore Team to seven consecutive national championship tournaments.”

Media

Major news organizations will be publicizing the event. They include Islandstats.com, Bernews, The Royal Gazette, SARugbyMag.co.za,  the Telegraph, and Sky Sports. America’s digital rugby news services like Americas Rugby News, DJCoil Rugby, and the Rugby Rant Podcast, are also covering the tournament.

World Tens Series CEO, Jon Phelps commented on the series being broadcast on Sky Sports saying “it is fantastic to be working with a huge broadcast partner in Sky Sports for our World Tens Series events in Bermuda. Having the World Tens broadcast on Sky Sports will allow thousands of rugby fans across the UK the opportunity to see all the action unfold live and via highlights.

“Sky Sports broadcast a number of international rugby tournaments and matches all around the world, so to be added to the portfolio is testament to the hard work of our team in getting this concept to life.”

All matches will also be streamed on ESPN+.

World Tens Series Teams and Tournament

The Series includes the Aviators Tens (Ohio), Miami Sun, and Rhino Rugby (Southern California) from the U.S., the London Royals (UK), SX10 (Africa), Phoenix Rugby (Middle East), and the Asia Pacific Dragons. The eighth team from South America was a last-minute scratch due to travel restrictions due to COVID-19.

During 2021 the Series plans to expand to 16 teams that will play at 12 global locations.

The World Tens Series setting is near the pristine beaches, lush resorts, has player rosters of many of the best players in the world, a pitch that is superb, which when combined, will ensure a compelling tournament.

At this time, the player rosters for the Ohio Aviators and SX10 have been released. A number of players on the London Royals are also known, while the other teams have been slow to make their announcements. Rosters will be listed below and will be updated when known.

The tournament will be broadcast in the UK by Sky Sports and when other partners are known, the article will be updated.

Tournament Format

The round-robin format will see each of the 7 teams playing each other twice across the opening two weekends to determine seeding for the final weekend knock-out round.

The Rules

Rugby Tens consists of ten players per team competing against each other in two ten-minute halves with a two-minute halftime break.

16 players are selected from a 20-man squad throughout each match with unlimited rolling substitutions allowed throughout each match.

Conversion jeopardy with the conversion after the try ensures that the conversion is now worth between 1 and 5 points depending on where the kicker selects which zone to kick from.

No match will be a draw with the excitement of a match play shootout if the game is all tied up after 20 minutes.

World Tens Series Rosters

Ohio Aviator Rugby 10s:

Forwards:
Kyle Baillie (NOLA Gold), Chris Baumann (Austin Blacks), Dylan Fawsitt (Rugby United New York), Pat O’Toole, Riekert Hattingh (Seattle Seawolves), Eric Howard (NOLA Gold), Spencer Krueger (New England Free Jacks), John Sullivan (NOLA Gold), Brad Tucker (Seattle Seawolves), Paddy Ryan (unattached), Moni Tonga’uiha (NOLA Gold),

Backs:
Bryce Campbell (Unattached), Ben Cima (Seattle Seawolves), JP Eloff (NOLA Gold), Tiaan Loots (unattached), Will Magie (Austin Gilgronis), Cristian Rodriguez (Belmont Shore, Dallas Jackals), Shawn Riley (NOLA Gold), JP Smith (Seattle Seawolves), Shalom Suniula (Seattle Seawolves), Nick Feakes (NOLA Gold)

Staff:
Head Coach – Taylor Howden
Assistant Coach – Kane Thompson
Manager – Zack Stryffeler
Medical Director – Richard Quincy
Director – Tom Rooney

SX10:

Head Coach Frankie Horne

Forwards
Willy Ambaka (Kenya 7s), Andrew Amonde (Kenya 7s), Tienie Burger (Southern Kings), Cory Daniel (Old Glory DC), Frikkie de Beer (Utah Warriors), Marzuq Maarman Timisoara Saracens), Harry McNulty (Ireland 7s), Oscar Ouma (Kenya 7s), Gary Porter (Ikey Tigers), Thinus van Zyl (Stellenbosch Academy)

Backs
Cecil Afrika (San Diego Legion), Christian Ambadiang (Southern Kings), Oscar Dennis (Kenya 7s), JP du Plessis (NOLA Gold), Craig Hunt (Austin Blacks), Collins Injera (Kenya 7s), JT Jackson (Southern Kings), Dewald Naude (Maties), Luke Treharne (Wales 7s), Connor Wallace-Sims (Rugby United New York)

London Royals:

Head Coach John Brake, Ass’t Kees Lensing, Mgr Chris Tombs

Stephan Coetzee (Seattle Seawolves), Devante Onojaife (formerly Northampton Saints), Andrew Durutalo (former USA Eagles XVs & 7s), Sean McNulty LA Giltinis), Collin Hughes (WTS Combines), Ross Neal (Seattle Seawolves), Max Northcote-Green (London Irish), Alex Gray (former England U20/Atlanta NFL – player support), Aldo Campbell (Bermuda international), Richard de Carpentier (England 7s), Zinzan Elan-Puttick (Austin Gilgronis), James Haley (WTS Combine), Tom Mitchell (England 7s captain), David Busby (Seattle Seawolves), Alex Davis (England 7s), JP Aguirre (Seattle Seawolves), Tom Bowen (England 7s), Tom Emery (England 7s), Dan Norton (England 7s), Gio Douyon (404 Rugby ATL), Ben Foden (Rugby United New York)

Rhino Rugby (Southern California):

Ryno Combrinck head coach

Will Leonard (Rugby United New York), Zach Bonte (unattached), Jacques Rabe (SAS Rugby 7s), Christian Holmes (Heusenstamm Foxes), Conor Kindregan (New England Free Jacks), Courtney Winnaar (unattached), Cyrille Cama (Rhinos U23 HP Academy), Carl Meyer (NOLA Gold), Jack Casey (Houston SaberCats Academy), Jacob Hidalgo (unattached), Jake Campey (Westcliff RFC), Julian Dominguez (NOLA Gold), Luyolo Dapula (unattached), Mike Te’o (USA Eagles), Nick Taylor (Seattle Seawolves), Ollie Nott (Canada National Senior Men’s), Patrick Regan (UCLA), Tyler Fujimoto (Rhino U23 HP Academy), Eric Naposki (UCLA) , Jurie Van Vurren (Utah Warriors, player/coach)

Miami Sun:

Head Coach Russell Earnshaw, AC: David Ross

Forwards: Will Vakalahi (Old Glory DC), Anthony Parry (Rugby United New York), Mike Brown (Dallas Jackals), Josh Larsen (New England Free Jacks), Matt Hughston (unattached), Luca Tani (LA Giltinis), Wesley Teo (Belmont Shore),  Moses Lalasava (Seattle), Connor Buck (WTS Combines)

Backs: Nick Boyer (LA Giltinis), Joey Sok (WTS Combines), Nolan Tuamoheloa (Utah Warriors), James Stokes, Mark “The CowBoy” O’Keeffe (Lansdowne), Tyrie Allen (WTS Combines), Matthew Coore (WTS Combines), Troy Lockyear (Rugby United New York), Janry Du Toit (Namibia), Marcus Satavu, DTH Van der Merwe

Asia Pacific Dragons:

Head coach Toutai Kefu, Assist Andrew Suniula, manager / S&C Ben Lonergan

Vili Totuta’u (Seattle Seawolves), Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (Old Glory DC), William Te’o, Chris Eves, Lion Saunitoga, Api Naikatini (Old Glory DC), Maikeli Naromaitoga (Austin Gilgronis), Miles Wakelin, Rowan Gouws, Kurt Morath (Austin Gilgronis), Nafi Tuitavake, Tomasi Alosio, Thretton Palamo (Old Glory DC), Tommy Bell, Hemaua Samisoni, Elden Schoeman, Alex Khutsishvili, Jamil Robinson

Phoenix Rugby (Middle East):

Head Coach Braam Van Straaten, Ass’t Coach Danie Coetzee

Aston Fortuin, Denis Coulson, Aaron Brody, Gareth Heidtmann, Dean Murphy, Lewis Berg, Josiah Boafo, Scott Bickerstaff, Josiah Boafo, Corey Jones (Austin Gilgronis), Antonio Pernichief-Leader, Dan Cole, Stefan Smit, Tom Healy, Tre Stevens, Darren Richardson, Aki Raymond, John Poland (New England Free Jacks), Robbie Chalmers, Edmund Ludick, Jonas Mikalcius, Stefan Ungerer, Zygimantas Radzius, Harry Barlow, Patrick Holman, Andell Loubser, Gavin Mills, Tashon DeSilva, Aldo Campbell, Oscar Ouma, Thomas Greenslade, Alex Brown, Aki Raymond, Mat Turner

Due to travel restrictions, the following squad will represent Phoenix in round one this Sunday 25 and Monday 26 October.

Schedule:

SX10 had a player test positive for COVID-19 and the team will forfeit their first-round matches.

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