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Hometown favourites Samoa have both experience and recent form on their side ahead of the 2011 Oceania Sevens Championship, which kicks off in Apia on Friday.

The fourth edition of the tournament is the qualifying event for regional non-core teams to participate in the fourth and sixth rounds of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Wellington and Hong Kong in 2012, and has drawn almost all of the top teams in the region.

Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, American Samoa and New Caledonia make up Pool A while the Samoans are joined by Australia, the Cook Islands, Niue and the Solomon Islands in Pool B at Apia Park.
HSBC Sevens World Series champions New Zealand will not be participating in the event.

The Stephen Betham-coached Samoans edged Fiji 21-19 in the Pacific Games in Nouméa in early September and have named eight of that squad for Apia.

David Lemi and Ofisa Treviranus return to the Sevens after playing a starring role at Rugby World Cup 2011 along with Alatasi Tupou who was first capped for Samoa Sevens in 2007.

However two key Samoan players are unavailable as they take up professional contracts in Europe. Veteran forward Alafoti Fa'osiliva is heading to Toulon to provide cover for injured Argentinian Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, who is out for six months with a knee injury, and utility back Fautua Otto has started with English club Bristol.

Young Aussies building for Gold Coast

Conversely, defending Oceania champions Australia field a young squad in Apia.

Coach Michael O’Connor introduces a new crop of players, with 11 of the 12 being under 23 and Hamish Angus the only survivor from the team that made the final of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Twickenham in May.
Former Australian Schools captain Jordan Tuapou, a loose forward from the Eastern Suburbs club in Brisbane, Australian Under 20 centre Bill Meakes and national Under 19 representative Lindsay Crook are among those looking for the opportunity to shine ahead of the World Series.

Top seeds blood new talent

Fiji have a youthful side with no fewer than nine of the side making their debut throughout this year. Captain Setefano Cakau and Watisoni Votu add the experience to the squad which also features Lepani Botia, James Brown, Livai Ikanikoda, Waisale Lagilagi, Apakuki Vuaviri, Timoci Davu, Joji Ragamate, Sevuloni Lutu and Aporosa Tabulawaki.

Several players from last season, including Emosi Vucago, Joeli Lutumailagi and Mitieli Nacagilevu, have opted to stay and continue their preparations with the Police for the Sukuna Bowl.

Fiji coach Joe Savou, whose job is up for grabs ahead of the season, told Radio Fiji the recent Marist Sevens was excellent preparation.

“Playing clubs here in Samoa and going against players who are renowned in the world sevens stage is not easy and it was a very big challenge for them,” he said. “They've played very well especially in their first time together.”

All to play for in Apia

The HSBC Sevens World Series core teams - Samoa, Australia and Fiji - should lead the challenge for the title while Papua New Guinea and Tonga have more than a chance of causing an upset.

The latter two met in the play-off for third last year at Darwin, Tonga triumphing 12-7, but the ‘Pukpuks’ have improved since then, claiming the Bowl at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and defeating top tier nations on the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Coached by former All Black Shane Howarth, they also pushed Fiji to extra time in Noumea and finished up with the bronze medal, thereby qualifying for the inaugural Gold Coast Sevens on November 25-26.

The two teams, along with Niue and the Cook Islands, will have their own competition within a competition in Apia, as the top two non-core sides at the 2011 Oceania Sevens Championship qualify for Wellington, and the top performing non-core team qualifies for Hong Kong in the 2011/12 HSBC Sevens World Series.