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The Suva Rugby Union have announced that the rugby unions of both Samoa and Tonga have accepted invitations to send Sevens teams to the Suva Rugby Festival in January 2010.

Held from January 15-23 2010 at a number of venues in Suva, the Suva Rugby Festival promises to be one of the biggest rugby festivals in the world with more than 200 teams participating.

"This is doubly fantastic news," said SRU and organising committee chairman Vilikesa Rauca.

"The Suva Rugby Festival is now guaranteed to be a showcase for international Sevens rugby in the region."

In accepting the invitation, Samoa Rugby Union CEO Sua Peter Schuster complimented the initiative. 

"Fiji is a breeding and testing ground for any team that wants to achieve the ultimate prize of winning rugby Sevens tournaments," he said.

"The Samoa Barbarians’ participation at the Suva Rugby Festival is a gauging opportunity for the Samoan team performance leading up to the IRB World 7s Series in Wellington," added Schuster.

Tonga Rugby Union acting CEO Mark Hojelson also expressed delight with the invitation. "The festival is a highlight for the boys vying selection for the Sevens team.”

"The Suva Rugby Festival participation will be an opportunity for local Tongan boys to try and match the best exponents of Sevens rugby, and hopefully, give and take some lessons in the Pacific Islands brand of Sevens rugby,” added Hojelson.

The Suva Rugby Festival is the start of grand plans to celebrate the Suva Rugby Union’s centenary in 2012 and the organising committee will also provide complimentary passes to all ex-national 15s players, potentially including Suva’s very own Waisale Serevi, who attend the week-long festival in January.

As well as the Sevens tournament, the week-long festival will kick-off with a 10s tournament at Suva’s Albert Park before the Sevens tournament begins.

In the build up to the tournament there will also be the Suva Sevens Series. This event, also organised by the Suva Rugby Union, comprises three regional tournaments in Suva, Lautoka and Labassa from November to January, and the top two teams at each tournament will qualify for the international section of the Suva Rugby Festival.