Everything You Need To Know About The SCC 7s 2025 & Why You Should Go

The Singapore Cricket Club International SCC 7s returns for its 76th edition from 15-16 November 2025 at the SCC Padang, but did you know it’s actually four tournaments bundled into one?

Shaneet Rai, Tournament Secretary, explains all to Rugby Asia 247 and what the fans and teams can expect from one of the oldest Sevens rugby tournaments in Asia.

Feature Photo Credit – Luke Seow/SCC7s 

“It is actually effectively four tournaments that we have under the one umbrella, collectively as the SCC sevens,” said Shaneet Rai.

From 8-9 November, we have the Academy tournament, and we’re seeing over 250 teams across the age groups descend on Dempsey and Padang fields. Being the end of the year, the tail end of the academy year, it’s a highlight for all the academy teams. 

I think we’ll see kids from as young as U4, U5, all the way up to U18s, and it’s a really good carnival event. It’s become a pillar in the academy calendar. We obviously work very closely with the SCC Rugby Academy guys to bring it across.”

The action then moves to the following weekend for an action-packed few days of rugby.

“The following Friday, we have traditionally, in what is one of the oldest school sevens tournaments in Singapore and Asia, the Schools and Colleges’ Sevens across three age groups; U14, U16 and U18. That’s a one-day tournament, and then the finals are played on Sunday.

On Friday evening, we’ve got a Corporate Touch event. At the moment, we’ve got four or five teams, and we’re looking for a couple more, but that’s always a good event and fun. It runs from about five o’clock to sundown, and you play on the Padang as the sun comes down. Then the main SCC 7s is on the weekend.”

This is the 76th edition of the tournament (without counting the pandemic-impacted years), and the expansion to include the schools and other categories started in the 1980s-1990s, added Shaneet Rai.

Photo Credit – Luke Seow/SCC7s – Lucky Sullivan @ SCC 7s

“In the mid-90s, we had what we called regional tournaments. We would get a lot of the British Armed Forces based in Singapore, or the Fijian regiment based here, all coming in. It was very localised or regional, with teams from Singapore and Malaysia. 

It was a time when you had the stars: your Michael Lynagh, your Gavin Hastings. We even had a 16-year-old Jonah Lomu come onto the pitch. That’s where it became quite international. 

We started the schools and colleges around the mid-80s, and it was actually separate. It would start in March with the Singapore school holidays, and then we would basically play our tournament in November. 

But we made a conscious decision, probably about 15 years ago, to bring it into the fold, and then the academy tournament has also organically grown from the last 10-15 years as well. It just made more sense, both from a commercial aspect, but more from a festival aspect as well, to bring everybody under one roof, to try and get everybody together.” 

He explained that for schools and colleges, the tournament for the longest time was the official national schools’ championship, which has now changed, but there is still a lot of history and pride in the tournament. 

“We’re quite proud of the fact that a lot of schools still put a lot even though it’s the school holidays in Singapore. Schools still value the prestige of competing for that tournament. We’ve got a Malaysian team coming too this year, and last year we had Dubai College, who won, but they’re not coming this year.”

Photo Credit – Luke Seow/SCC7s – KL Tigers

What Can Teams and Fans Expect from The Singapore Cricket Club 7s?

Rugby Asia 247 hopes to be there in 2025, and for the first time, so will prestigious touring teams like Shogun, as well as the Stockholm Exiles and Give Rugby. So why should teams and fans get excited about the SCC 7s?

“I think the most unique aspect of the tournament is that it’s not in the stadium. It’s a temporary stadium that’s been built up on the Padang. In Singapore, the Padang is empty 350 days out of the year, and it suddenly becomes a massive stadium that we construct from scratch.

Everyone is so close to the action; you’re not sitting up in the stands, you are literally 10 meters from the touch line. You get to see the stars. You get to see the players. For many years, we’ve been billed as the ‘Friendly Sevens’ because everybody gets to mingle around.

You also get to see stars before they become stars. We might not be the top in terms of all the stars coming in, but we still have a lot of notable names. Teams see this tournament as a developmental platform as well. 

Then there is the fun element with the food and beverages, and the corporate hospitality, so it’s quite a relaxed atmosphere. There is a great mix of the kids and the internationals and all that. We are planning on getting a women’s competition down the line, but it’s just that space is an issue. We are the oldest in Asia, and it’s constantly evolving.”

Tell Us More About The Local Singapore Teams Competing

Photo Credit – Luke Seow/SCC7s – Tradition Bucks SCC 7s

The local sides competing among the 16 teams in the main SCC 7s 2025 competition are: Tradition Bucks, SCC Rugby, and the SG Development teams.

Shaneet Rai said, “The SCC Rugby side is the host. We are looking to stock up the team a little, but it will be mostly guys who play in the local league. We will have a few of our guys who were involved in the national Sevens set up return to us for the tournament, so it will be quite a strong team. Some old heads, like Declan Martins, who used to play for and captain Singapore, will probably be leading out the side. We always want to be competitive.

The Tradition Bucks are a composite side. Their origins are from the Bucks Club in Singapore. But over recent years, they have also stacked the team to be competitive, because that’s the nature of the competition. You can’t just rock up with a social side, as the level is really, really high. 

The Singapore Development team is basically going to be the team that is preparing for the SEA Games in December. This is the highest competition that they have at home, and it’s a month out before the SEA Games, so it’s the best time to do a camp, and it’s our final camp, their final warm-up. It’ll be a good side, but it’s a very strong lineup across the board.”

The Tournament Secretary explained, “I think one thing to note, and it’s a unique tradition, is that we don’t offer prize money, nor do we impose registration fees. So a lot of these teams pay their own way here, but it’s really for the prestige, and teams keep on coming back, year on year on, either as players or coaches. We’ve got a manager who’s been consistently coming over for 33 years.”

Photo Credit – SRU – Singapore Men 7s team – aRESS 2025

SCC 7s 2025 Pools

The 16 teams for the main tournament are split into four pools of four. Some of the international teams are regulars at the SCC 7s, while new sides will also be there in 2025.

“Palmyra RFC from Western Australia has been coming for 43 years consecutively. We’re very, very happy that Shogun has decided to come this year as well, as their reputation on the circuit is really, really good, and they’re going to be a very strong Kiwi side, as far as I understand. 

We’re missing a bit of the Islanders, but don’t worry, Royal Town Warriors from Malaysia are going to be full of Islanders.”

There is a good Asian representation, and two of the sides are from Japan. “I think the pools will be very, very challenging. The Tamariva Club come from Japan, and they usually come up with a few ex-Japanese internationals – they’re one of the bigger clubs in Japan. Socially, Kurumi RFC is a great touring side, too, and that mix is great for us organisers.

We obviously do get a fair attraction from Australia and New Zealand, because it’s relatively near. We do still get one or two European-based teams, but it’s a longer trek for them. 

The Stockholm exiles, while they are new, have been coming as the Swedish Vikings, which is basically the Swedish national team, for many, many years. The manager just happens to be the president of the club now, so it’s all these linkages.”

Pool A

• Royal Town Warriors
• KL Tigers RFC
• Tradition Bucks
• East Arnhem Rugby Union

Pool B

• Cougars NT Rugby
• Port Moresby Harlequins RFC
• Tamariva Club
• Singapore Development

Pool C

• Lloyd McDermott Rugby
• Palmyra RFC
• Stockholm Exiles
• SCC Rugby

Pool D

• Shogun RFC
• Give Rugby
• NS Silverbacks
• Kurumi RFC

Shaneet Rai said of the teams and the interest the tournament generates, “Everyone wants to watch good rugby, right? So we want to make sure that we have a good quality of rugby. Even a few of the Super Rugby teams have said they are looking at sending some development squads, so there’s a lot of interest. It’s just getting them over and making them see this as part of their pathway.”

The fixtures and results can be followed here.

Photo Credit – Shogun Rugby – Will be making their first appearance at the SCC 7s

Long Lunch SCC Sevens 2025

Although already sold out, there will also be a Long Lunch on Friday. “We’ve got a good lineup, and we’ve always had this North as a South thing. So we’ve got David Trick, who used to play for Bath in England, and then a very large man and All Black called Kees Meeuws, so it’s going to be a fun time. We do an auction and raise some money for the tournament, and for a few charities. 

We fill up the historic Padang dining room. and more or less sold out pretty quickly. It’s a long-standing tradition, and we had Andy Powell a couple of years ago, John Bentley last year with David Lyon.”

SCC 7s Tickets

Tickets are available online and will be available on the day at the door. Entry is free for the school tournaments.

Why come to watch the SCC 7s? Shaneet Rai explained, “For the ticket price that we’re offering, you can’t buy a meal these days for that in Singapore. So come down and have a bit of fun. You don’t have to know what rugby is. It’s just an enjoyable time and a festival. 

We’ve even got a kids’ playground area, and families can have a bit of fun. I think that’s the beauty of Sevens – it’s not so much about the rugby, but it’s more about the whole atmosphere.”

How to Watch the SCC 7s?

There will also be a live stream for those who can’t attend. “We’re partnering with a local company, and they will stream the SCC 7s, and we’ll put it on our own platform as well,” Shaneet Rai told us.

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