Panaji: With around 50 Goan players, most of them juniors, competing alongside domestic and international teams, the third edition of Goa 7s, an international rugby competition, has given local players a platform to test themselves against quality competition.




The tournament was organised by the Crocotryles Rugby Foundation under the leadership of its founder, Brandan Crasto . Organisers said this year's tournament was the most competitive, with visiting teams and international match officials praising the standard of play.




Crocotryles Rugby Foundation has now set its sights on taking the event to the international circuit.




"All foreign and domestic teams were impressed by the performance of the local players,” said Crasto . “They said they can't wait to see what levels they will reach with a little more training and experience."




Around 50 Goans participated in the elite-level competition, a majority of them juniors aged between 13 and 17, while the rest were seniors aged 18 and above.




Crasto said the standard of competition this season was the toughest the tournament had witnessed in its three editions.




Golden Jackals of the Future Hope Foundation won the men's title, while Kerala Wolfpack emerged champions in the women's category. Qatar's Hurricane Storm claimed the mixed touch rugby title.




The event also attracted senior match officials from Rugby India and the Sri Lanka Rugby Union, including Anil Jayasinghe , a World Rugby educator and member of Asia Rugby's Coach of Match Officials/Performance Reviewer Panel. Crasto said Jayasinghe was surprised by the standard of competition and described it as a high-standard professional-level tournament, with intense competition among teams.




Jayasinghe indicated that he would recommend Goa 7s to other countries in the Asia Rugby network.




The organisers have also received support from Hong Kong Sevens directors, who could depute teams and provide operational support for the next edition.




The tournament came with its share of organisational challenges.




The Sports Authority of Goa ( SAG ) shifted the event from its originally proposed venue, Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, to Benaulim just 20 days before the competition. The change forced organisers to redo their operational plans, infrastructure arrangements, branding and designs within a short timeframe.




The organisers also encountered broadcasting-related issues and uncertainty over the functioning of floodlights at the new venue.




Despite the challenges, Crasto said feedback from participating teams, particularly international visitors, was encouraging. Teams appreciated the standard of competition, playing surface, food, hospitality and overall atmosphere.




The foundation's longer-term ambition is to establish Goa 7s as an international rugby platform and eventually make it one of the legs of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Crasto said Goa's appeal as an international tourism destination, combined with the platform created through Goa 7s, could help the state pursue that ambition.