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This weekend sees the return of hugely popular Stockholm Tens in Sweden’s glamourous capital city.

32 Men’s teams and 12 Women’s teams from all across Europe will once again make the pilgrimage to Årstafältet for the eighteenth running of the event.

The Men’s Competition has seen the addition of some high quality teams sniffing for glory. Last year once again saw the Olorun Sharks triumph, beating the Bootleggers.

The 2009 winners have now morphed into the Olorun Vikings, a team predominately made up of the Swedish National team with the addition of some Sharks.

The new side are hoping to promote Swedish rugby with further planned tours to the Singapore Sevens and Dubai Sevens in the pipeline.

The Bootleggers return once more, buoyed by their encouraging showing at Newquay’s Open competition under the reins of captain Michael Rickner.

Kamikaze, a guest team on the recent National Sevens Series, bolster the line-up further along with charity side Wooden Spoon. Millfield Old Boys were runners-up in May’s Amsterdam Sevens and are another side capable of capturing some silverware.

“The Men’s tournament looks like it will be very tough this year," said one of the Tournament Organisers, Hunter Mabon.

“Apart from last year’s finalists Olorun Sharks/Vikings and Bootleggers we have Millfield Old Boys RFC, Kamikaze and Wooden Spoon whom have all shown good form this year.”

The likes of Bergen Red Knuts ( Norway), Madde's Prospects (Finland), Rugby Club Leuven (Belgium) and Glasgow Exiles (Scotland) will give the event a truly European feel. Emirates Flying Muppets (United Arab Emirates) and AliBaa-Baas Arabian represent the Middle East.

Ladies action

Expect the local Swedish sides, such as Stockholm Exiles Ladies and Horny Bulls, to feature in the latter stages of the Women’s competition. Old Belvedere from Ireland and the Moody Cows both return with Spain’s XV Sanse Scrum Dublineses a potential dark horse.

“The Women’s will be a more open affair as most of the best Swedish girls are away in preparation for the IRB Women’s World Cup,” added Mabon.

“Perhaps the Moody Cows or Old Belvedere from Ireland will reach the top?”

Related articles:

Stockholm Tens has earned its stripes: 2009