THEY were a B team in name only, Sao Paulo B edging out Rio Sharks in Brazil at the weekend as the Nines focus switches across the Pacific to Western Sydney for the year’s most prestigious tournament.
The tour enjoyed en eventful Brazilian stop at Sao Lourenco, roughly halfway between the cities which bore the names of the teams in the men’s Nines at Parque des Aguas. It’s the first time these two metropolises have been represented in a Brazilian final as the competition moves to a more national identity this year.
Sao Paulo took out a tight struggle, 18-12.
“Sao Paulo fielded two teams as a new identity, which shows how much they are developing,” explained newly-appointed Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation representative in South America, Robert Burgin.
“There was a bit of a changing of the guard in both men’s and women’s with Urutau knocked out in the semi finals of the men and their women finishing last in their (13-a-side) pool.
“Urutau – based just outside Curitiba, another very big city with a rich rugby history – was a standout team in the last championships of 2019.
“One comment I could say from a personal perspective is that three or four years ago, I would have been confident in myself walking out onto the field and matching it with any players here.
“This year I feel I would have genuinely feared for my safety. There are some monsters here, they are super-fit after a lot of them have spent isolation in the gym and I think, although all our focus is on the women’s side for making the World Cup, the men have arguably improved even more.”
Nines has enjoyed an explosion of activity in 2021 with successful tournaments already held the Cook Islands, New Zealand, Ghana, Papua New Guinea (twice) and now Brazil. The most recent competition in PNG, on Daru Islands, featured 45 teams and was played over three days with Balimo Saliki beating Mase Eagles in the final.
And this Saturday as the competitive Australian season kicks off with the NRL All Stars, there are two more tournaments scheduled in more established rugby league regions.
The Sydney Nines – to be played on Saturday – is second only to the World Cup of the abbreviated game in its global standing.
This year the tournament will feature 16 men’s teams and six women’s sides. In the men’s division, national sides from Vietnam, Malta, Lebanon,Ireland, Niue, Philippines and Italy have been announced as competitors.
In the women’s pools, Greece, Lebanon and Malta will play against local teams.
Also on Saturday, the Crosbie Nines are pencilled in for Christchurch but there is some doubt due to Covid.
The organisers said on Facebook: “Obviously this Covid-19 level two for Christchurch has thrown a spanner in the works.
“And as we have a team coming from Auckland, who are on level three, we are just waiting for more information and advice from the New Zealand Rugby League.
“But it obviously depends what happens after Wednesday night and what the government decides to do.
“Will keep you posted as to whether we will proceed this weekend or postpone or, in the worst case scenario, we cancel the 2021 Crosbie Nines.”
