The decision a few years ago to rule out international, composite or representative teams from the Kiama Sevens (now the Morgans Kiama Sevens) is paying dividends, as the rugby community looks to support competitions returning the prize money to the grassroots.

As one of Australia’s earliest Sevens competitions, the Kiama event has remained an event all the clubs want to support, even given the large number of new competitions that have emerged. With $32,000 in prize money, it is also the richest domestic tournament.

“We have firmly established ourselves as a pathway to the HSBC World Sevens tour, the RWC Sevens and the Olympics,” says the tournament director, Mark Bryant.

“Last year Warringah’s Maclean Jones was identified by Australian Seven’s coach Andy Friend to try out for the team, but the next day he got called up
to join the Waratahs.

“Andy will be here again this year and the players know it. It is a great opportunity for them to show their stuff.”

Ex-Wallabies Peter Slattery, James Grant, Tony Daly, David Campese and Marty Roebuck, and Australian Men’s Sevens Captain Lewis Holland, will be in the crowd to enjoy the competition.

Now in its 46^th year, over 600 athletes will be competing in the day long event  – 32 men’s sides will vie for the Cleary Bros Kiama Sevens Cup, the CCC Country Cup, the Dr Astin Lee, The Cardiac Centre NSW Plate and the Elastoplast Plate; and eight women’s sides for the Sebel Harbourside Kiama Vase.

Details: Sat 24 February, Kiama Showground. Sixty-eight games over two fields with kick off at 8.30am and the finals from 3 pm. Entry $10.  More info kiamarugby.com