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MICHAEL O'Connor's Aussie Thunderbolts will be participating in the Uprising Fiji International Sevens tournament which will be held next year.

The side, which comprises players from the Australian national 7s team, would be featuring in the annual event to be held on January 20 and 21 at the tfl National Stadium in Suva.

Australia now joins Thierry Janeczek's French side as the first two overseas teams to line-up with the best club sides in Fiji.

Uprising Fiji International 7s spokesperson Tahitia Kamea said this would be the first time for an Australian 7s side to visit Fiji since February 2000 when Glen Ella's team reached the semi-finals of the then Fiji International 7s.

She said the inclusion of the Aussie Thunderbolts had raised the profile of the tournament.

"This is just wonderful news," she said. "We have wanted to raise the profile of the teams participating from last year, and hosting the Aussie Thunderbolts is the first step towards achieving this.

"The focus of the Uprising Fiji International 7s is to bring the finest quality 7s rugby to Fiji in the same 16-team format as the IRB HSBC Sevens World Series."

Former Australian rugby player and Aussie Thunderbolts coach O'Connor noted it has been "several years since we have played in a sevens tournament in Fiji and we are excited to return to Fiji and look forward to participating in the Uprising Fiji International 7s."

O'Connor said they were anticipating a tough tournament especially playing against the top local clubs.

"We know that the level of competition will be extremely strong with a good mix of international teams and the depth of talent from the Fiji sides," he said.

"The Uprising Fiji International 7s kicks off the Centenary Year for Fiji Rugby, celebrating 100 years of rugby in the capital so it is appropriate that Australia is involved given that the two unions association dates back 60 years to 1952 when Fiji first toured Australia," Kamea said.

She said the tournament could be used as a perfect build-up for the teams taking part in the Wellington 7s.

"Last January's inaugural Uprising Fiji 7s established itself as one of the premier rugby 7s tournaments in the region with international sides coming from New Zealand, France, Samoa, USA and New Caledonia," Kamea added.

A total of 16 top class rugby sides will feature in this tournament. Red Rock won the first ever Uprising Fiji International 7s in January this year.