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Robin Heymann

Following the culmination of last season's Edinburgh Sevens I had the pleasure of sharing a few tinnies with members of the Australian Sevens team. They’re a really good bunch. Despite being very young and possessing a lot of talent they all seemed pretty humble with a good head on their shoulders.

I particularly enjoyed talking to young flyer Dom Shipperley and asking him why Australia, despite possessing all the right ingredients, hadn’t caught the Sevens bug. He was as confused as me but hinted it might be the lack of big tournaments around the country might be factor. Simply not enough players are keen enough on Sevens or have their appetities whetted by the sport.

Starting to change

But perhaps the Aussies are finally starting to wake up. In a land with such thirst for exciting and high octane ball sports, Rugby Sevens is starting to be noticed. With exciting new tournaments such as the Central Coast Sevens and the Gold Coast International Sevens set to take place in the coming weeks the penny could be dropping.

With Wallabies coach Robbie Deans a big advocate of the abbreviated code and giving his full support to National Sevens coach, Michael O’Connor, perhaps this is finally their year.

Oh and what about Olympic Rugby? When it comes to the five rings, Team Australia is about as passionate and tenaciousness as it gets. The allure of a ‘Green n Gold’ Gold will add fuel to the Sevens fire and change the game Down Under considerably.

If there’s one man who understands this all down to a tee it’s the Fitness First Central Coast Sevens organiser Craig Morgan. His hard work will all be on display this weekend at what is being billed as the official start to the Australian Sevens season.

Being located an hour away from Sydney and even closer to Hunter Valley has proved critical in attracting some top drawer clubs to the Morrie Breen Oval in Wyong. Morgan is confident that the rising number of tournaments can only be a positive thing.

“We definitely wish to spread the word within Australia. Sevens rugby is growing rapidly as it is so fast paced and exciting, like the 20:20 of cricket. The more premier tournaments the public see the more they will be captivated by the atmosphere, speed, skill and power of Sevens,” said Morgan.

Outside of the Adelaide Sevens, Australia has been crying out for some more high quality tournaments for elite players. Picking a national squad with such little elite Sevens is a potentially tough gig for O’Connor, with Darwin’s 'Hottest' 7s one of the only major showcases to view talent.

It’s led him to go with gut instinct and hoping talented 15-a-side prospects are nuggety enough to cope on the park with only 6 mates to play with.

Chance to get noticed

Perhaps unfairly this had led to the odd criticism with O’Connor sometimes accused of favouring players from a League background. But the Central Cost and Gold Coat International will now provide further scouting opportunities for O’Connor who will of course be in attendance.

“Both tournaments are very exciting the Gold Coast is looking huge and will become a great tournament in QLD we are hoping to eventually provide the same standard for New South Wales so the rugby world has two new premier tournaments in Australia,” added Morgan.

This year’s Adelaide Sevens proved a successful one for the hosts generating support for the game and the very public backing from Wallabies Coach Robbie Deans back in April.

"I'm totally behind it. You will see players come out of this year's team and become fully-fledged Super 14-contracted players, so they will in effect go from being amateurs straight through into a contract, and what player doesn't aspire to that?

“We want to broaden our base and the more avenues, the more pathways we have to do that; Club, Sevens or Super rugby,” added Deans

Just ask the likes of Richard Kingi and Luke Morahan. Quality youngsters who have been scooped out of the Sevens pool and plunged straight into Super 14 action.

Perhaps the Australian Rugby Unions have taken note because according to Morgan they now seem fully involved and keen to support these types of ventures.

“The ARU have been very supportive in assisting with promotion and utilising the tournament to run a number of current and fringe national players. This is a win-win (situation) as the ARU get to test their teams and the tournament benefits from the player talent participating. We would like to work closely with the ARU where possible for the future”.

Up for grabs

The Central Coast Rugby Union has entered a representative team which will include five fringe and current Australian Sevens players who are participating as a trial in the lead up to the IRB World Sevens Series. Premier Sydney clubs such as Manly, Warringah, and Parramatta are also expected to go far. What an opportunity for their young starlets to stake a claim.

Expect Gordon Highlanders to match these three and as we saw last season they have a rich pedigree for Sevens. Despite the loss of highly successful Lachlan Fear, due to the club not being able to cope with the financial burden of a full time coach, they could be tough to stop. Morgan’s dark horses for the weekend are the Burwood Blues, featuring a number of West Harbour players who won the Bangkok 10s back in February and the 2007 Hurricane Hawaii 7s.

Another highlight of the tournament will be the participation of an invitational team playing on behalf of tournament charity partner Hearts in Union Rugby Foundation who assists rugby players affected by spinal injury.

The team will feature some well known names from both rugby codes including former Wallaby, St George & Roosters player Scott Gourley & Manly League legend Cliffy Lyons. 10 Women’s teams are also lining up in Wyong with the girls trying to emulate the fantastic achievement set out by the national side who took home the World Cup Sevens title back in March. Plenty to play for and for the youngsters on display there is that added Olympic carrot dangling.

Boosting profile

With Sevens’ date with destiny for the 2016 Summer Games only a few days after the tournament (October 9) the timings worked out well.

“The Olympics would boost the profile of rugby 7s and would have a follow on effect increasing participation and development of talent”, said Morgan.

“The Olympics is one of the pinnacles of any country and for any athletes sporting achievements. We would take great pride in providing a tournament that not only features but assists or unearths new talent.”

With Morgan’s assurances that overseas teams have expressed big interest in making the trip to New South Wales for the 2010 showpiece which in time could turn into more of a festival type of affair to live up to its slogan as ‘Rugby at its Electrifying Best!’

Welcome to the party…