'On top of the world', that is how coach Andy Hickling describes the position he feels the Army Seven a Side team find themselves in as the sevens season draws to a close. Having won the Middlesex tournament in August, the team took on the might of all the top club teams in the Southern Hemisphere in the Singapore International Sevens tournament over the first weekend in November. This competition has, over the years, become the club championship of the Southern Hemisphere. It is also a competition that, despite their best efforts, has eluded the Army team over the last 4 years.

All this was to change though on the hot and humid Singapore Padang, located in the heart of the city, late on a Sunday evening in early November.

Anyone who witnessed will never forget the Army's magnificent victory, 26 points to 12, over a New Zealand Legends side containing no fewer than 5 sevens capped players. The Army's route to the final was no cake walk, with team the having to overcome Ranwick the top Australian club side, a provincial Maori 7, Ponsanby - this seasons winners of the Melrose Sevens, the oldest Sevens competition in the world. All these teams were encountered in the knock out stage of the competition. This, coupled with a difficult pool stage made this without doubt one of the Army's most famous victories. It is also worth recording that other teams knocked out at various stages of the tournament include, what was reputably the best sevens club side from South Africa, Durban Harlequins, who were the defending champions. An Australian Spirit Seven who were in all but name the Australian 7s squad and, five times previous winners, Tarandale, a New Zealand club side steeped in sevens history.

The Army's task was not helped when the newly appointed captain, 2Lt Mark Lee KOSB, was injured in the warm up for the first game. Director Sevens, L/Bdr Andy Dawling 7 Para RHA, was called out of retirement to step into the breach, a role he did in his normal highly professional manner. Highlander DamuDamu was awarded the player of the final but it was Pt. Joe Kava 23 Pioneer Regiment RLC, who was the Army's player of the tournament. Having been so often the nearly man, Joe came of age, and has certainly totally fulfilled the potential that has been lying just below the surface. It would be wrong to highlight just individual efforts; this was a truely team effort both on and off the pitch. The attitude and professionalism the team displayed in the preparation for the tournament far surpassed anything the Sevens team had produced previously. Training was given an extra edge with the team conducting a coaching clinic for children ably assisted by England World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson.

Man of the Tournament Joe Kava
fends off the England World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson

As champions of the top tournaments in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere does triumphantly mean that the Army Sevens team are: ON TOP OF THE WORLD

SINGAPORE SLINGS AS ARMY WINGS TO VICTORY

Reporter: Roger Thompson

Middlesex Sevens Winners, the British Army, won the Singapore International Club 7s over 30/31 October in great style. Having topped the prelim-group, the Army was pitted against serious Australian opposition from Ponsonby in the Semis to meet the New Zealand Legends in the final. The Kiwis fielded five IRB All Blacks and in a scintillating 20 minute decider, in temperatures of 35 degrees, the Army won 26 pts-12. Forward Joe Kava RLC had a fantastic tournament whilst Isoa Damudamu from the Highlander Battalion was awarded Player of the Final and must surely now gain Fiji recognition.

Army coach Lt Col Andy Hickling said "Thanks to new Director of Sevens, former England 7s player Andy Dawling, the organization and preparation were spot on. This was one of those days when we clicked-it was a great pleasure to stand back and watch the boys play the way we had trained.