Since our team at Absolute Rugby have been together, we have enjoyed going to many Rugby based events. As we all know (and currently miss) about attending rugby matches, its not just the watching the game that makes it a great day out; the beers in the pub for the build up, the singing on the concourse going into the stadium or singing your team song/national anthem as you cheer from the stands.
Doing all that with friends and family make for great days out - and at Absolute Rugby, we've been to enough Rugby World Cups, Six Nations, Premiership matches and so on to testify to that. However, we are all in agreement that the best of all those moments have come when we have followed the England Rugby 7s around the circuit. Travelling the world with your mates, watching rugby in some amazing countries is right at the very top of our list of what life is all about!
So with this is mind, you can imagine our surprise when we read this press release,
"As of the 1st September 2020 – The Rugby Football Union has advised that our current funding for the upcoming 2020/21 World Series and Olympic program has been cut after achieving Olympic qualification in July 2019. As a result we are seeking alternative sources of funding to help give us the best shot of achieving an Olympic medal in Tokyo, 2021."
For us, one of the saving graces of sitting through watching the Olympics is the prospect of Rugby being played - and the RFU have pulled funding for our Men and Women's teams!
To fully illustrate who we are talking about when we mention the 7s team
'The England Men’s and Women’s Rugby Sevens squads. Both teams compete in the HSBC World Sevens Series, The Commonwealth Games, The Rugby Sevens World Cup and forms a Team GB squad for the Olympic Games. The sevens environment is unique and challenging and we take pride in being different. Our squad sizes are small, the men’s comprising 18 full-time players, and the women’s just 15. It is because of this the Sevens is not just a team we play for, but a family.'
So what are they asking us to do? Simple. Get them to Tokyo!
'Last summer, both squads achieved Olympic qualification. This Summer, both squads have faced redundancy due to major funding cuts. However, our mindset has stayed the same. As we strive for Olympic Gold, we also want to mould and shape the future of our sport in order to build a dynamic, sustainable and successful future for England Sevens. Your support will help us to run a programme fit for gold. Helping to provide funding for equipment costs, training, match practice and playing staff. As well as travel to pre-Olympic camps and competitions.'
How can you help the team get the Tokyo?
Simple - you have two ways.
1. When ordering from absoluterugby.co.uk use the code SAVEOUR7S at the checkout and you will get FREE delivery anywhere in the UK. But, crucially, we will pledge net 5% of your order as a donation to the 7s squads goal of getting to Tokyo. But you must remember to use that code!
2. If you would like to pledge directly to the team - you can find out how to do that here.
Its a great cause and in these testing times for everyone around the world - the rugby community should pull together to help out one another!
