Team Announcement for Singapore Men’s 15s team for Asia Rugby Championship 2017

The Singapore Rugby Union (SRU) last night unveiled the 2017 Men’s National Team at a jersey presentation at the Singapore Cricket Club. The team seeks to top the Division 2 tournament and earn promotion back to the top flight. A new management team, led by Head Coach Fraser McArdell, have been steering the team in its almost yearlong preparation and will face India in their qualification Semi-final on 15th November. Team preparations began in January for what was originally planned to be a May competition window but was ultimately pushed to its current November timeline. In this time, an initial selection of 60 invited players has been whittled down to a final squad of 25. A win will see Singapore face either hosts Taiwan or Thailand in the promotion final on 18th November.

Head Coach Frazer McArdell hopes to guide his team back to Division 1 at the first time of asking, taking it one game at a time. “Training has gone well and the boys are learning every session. Everything we are doing at the moment is geared towards our first match against India. The boys have a no excuses attitude, and know that the result is going to be in their hands and it’s up to them to deliver. Our aim is to get us promoted back into Division 1,” noted Frazer McArdell.

Hooker Gaspar Tan captains the 25 man squad, 13 of whom are set to make their national team debuts in a squad featuring an exciting blend of experience and new talent. The 25-cap veteran is joined by backrow player Peter McFeely, who debuted against Malaysia back in 2011 and has gone on to represent Singapore a total of 14 times.

“I’m confident that the team selected will wear the jersey with pride, and give it all they’ve got for us to get back to the higher division, which is where we want to be competing.” noted Vice President of the Singapore Rugby Union, Martin Williams. “Everyone has put in the hard yards and we wish them all the best in Taiwan”, he added.