The Singapore University Games are kicking off tonight at the NTU Sports & Recreation Pitch where The City Boys face off against their fierce rivals, The Boon Lay Warriors of NTU at 7:45pm.
SMUrugbyNews reporters got down on the ground for the low down on what to expect in the 2015 edition of the Singapore University Games.
Singapore Management University
The City Boys are blessed this year with a squad of almost 40 players who are all available for selection. Similar to the last 2 seasons, the SMU forward pack is abundant in numbers and diverse in playing positions. The current squad sees props who can double up as loose forwards and locks that can cover in the front row when needed. With the inclusion of Freshmen Rama & Thad who signed a 4 year deal with the City Boys earlier this year, they add immense work rate and aggression to the squad.
Ronald Cher, veteran prop and SMU Superstar also put pen to paper this season by extending his contract till December 2015. Cher, who is due to collect his CPF next year wants to end his final semester at SMU with a bang and add another medal to his collection.
National University of Singapore
Boasting a squad of close to 55 players, NUS are the current SUNIG champions and are definitely looking to show a fierce title defence this year. With National 7s representatives Nick Yao and Keith Arriola holding the fort in the backline this season, the NUS squad definitely looks to be lethal out wide with experience and immense speed. Daniel Looi, who is rumoured to be playing at 10 this season will look to unleash his back line with his skills and tricks that made him infamous during his schoolboy rugby days at ACSI and ACJC.
NUS has unfortunately lost the services of star flanker Russell Wong, who was ruled out for this season after going under the knife to repair torn ligaments in his knee a few months ago. We wish Russell a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the pitch soon!
Singapore Institute of Management
The Clementi Bad Boys are always a team to watch at the Uni games, be it 7s or 15s they always seem to put on a good fight and turn the tables on the opposition. Last season, they took on NTU and came up on top in a well deserved victory showing their prowess and aggression at scrum time and at the trenches of the rucks.
SIM legend and legend in general, Bryan Lim has graduated and will not feature in the SIM squad in this campaign, along with the likes of Jonah Wee and Alex Lim who have also finished school earlier this year.
SIM has an entire legion of players who play active club rugby and the experience that comes with that playing at University level is truly priceless. Can the Clementi Bad Boys live up to their reputation and put in a few upsets? Head on down to the games to find out!
Nanyang Technological University
The Boon Lay Warriors, led by the ever reliable and versatile Daniel Lum are definitely title contenders in this years edition of the Uni games. Fresh with overseas experience at a recent tournament in Malaysia, NTU rugby would definitely look to add the aggression they faced up north to their arsenal coming into their campaign.
NTU also has Matty Chia, an asset with his sneaky counter attacks and ability to control the game comfortably with whatever jersey number on his back, from 9 to 15.
With their first match against SMU later tonight, the rugby world would definitely be anxious to see who comes up on top this epic fixture.
Here are the fixtures for this years tournament, do drop by and support local university rugby at its best!
9th Sept - NTU vs SMU @ NTU Main Field
14th Sept - NUS vs SIM @ NUS Main Field
18th Sept - NUS vs SMU @ NUS Main Field
18th Sept - NTU vs SIM @ NTU Main Field
23rd Sept - SIM vs SMU @ NUS Main Field
23rd Sept - NTU vs NUS @ NTU Main Field
30th Sept - FINALS @ NUS Main Field
