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A high-level Western Force delegation will attend this weekend’s Singapore Sevens rugby tournament to discuss the club’s participation in a high-quality, four-team tournament there after next year’s Super 14.
Former England and Lions hooker Phil Greening is behind the proposed week-long event involving English powerhouses Saracens and Gloucester, the Force and either the NSW Waratahs or New Zealand side North Harbour.
Force chief executive Greg Harris heads a contingent of administrators plus players Junior Pelesasa and Chris O’Young.
Meetings have been scheduled with the Singapore Rugby Union, the Australian High Commissioner, and tourism and business groups.
Club sponsor ET Marine has established a Western Force bar at Boat Quay this week for the club to use as a recruiting base to expand its Singapore supporters club.
“We’re based in the world’s most isolated city and the logical place to expand our brand and business is South East Asia,” Harris said.
“Singapore is a major commercial hub and has a big expat community which we’re already tapping into.”
The stalemate over the expansion of the Super 14 finals to six teams next year has not been broken and consequently the four-team format will remain in place.
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