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Robin Heymann

If you haven’t been to Byron Bay, you have to go. Escape the hustle of Sydney and Brisbane by hitting this small seaside town on mainland Australia’s easternmost point. I might have been a naïve 18 year old pommy when I was last there, but I returned with memories of mindless dancing on tables, gorgeous beaches, sensational surf, and some laid-back friendly locals to boot.

I also remember a day spent watching some Sevens down at the local Rugby Club. Given the exotic location of it all, I think I’ll always cherish it as one of my favourite tournaments. Just 6 years later and the event is still going great guns. This weekend sees the 20th anniversary of one of Australian Rugby’s best kept secrets – it’s the Byron Sevens.

'I can't let go'

A couple of weeks back we saw the inaugural Central Coast Sevens kick start the Aussie Sevens season with aplomb, we are now up and running with some cracking tourneys on the horizon.

Byron Sevens’ principal trooper is Stuart Mackell who has been responsible for every single one of the 19 previous tournaments. Although the event sees some of Australia’s top Sevens players on offer, it tries to stay in tune with Byron’s modus operandi with everyone enjoying the chilled out party lifestyle that the town is famed for. Mackell is convinced this is going to be their ‘best year yet’ with plenty of revellers expected in Byron Shire over the course of the weekend

“Where else can you play a game of rugby and then be on the beach in two minutes and enjoy the lifestyle only Byron Bay has to offer,” says the enthusiastic Mackell.

“I've run this for all 20 years and just can't let it go! I see 500 people running around having a great time every year. This is what rugby is all about the real people playing and getting a chance to rub shoulders with the elite”.

O'Connor on prowl again

Elite? Yes for as much as I would love to talk about Byron’s epic rolling surf and legendary night haunts there is some rugby to be played.

The tournament reminds me of the Amsterdam Sevens in it’s make up; a two day affair where on the opening Saturday journeyman club players can mix it with the pros.

A mark of the esteem the event is held in, is illustrated by the expected appearance of national Sevens coach, Michael O’Connor. He was also present at Central Coast of course and is on the look-out for names to add to his little black book. X-Rats, a side made up of present and former alumni at Southern Cross University, including a plethora of ACT Brumbies academy youngsters keen are to catch the eye some of whom are already on the periphery of O’Connor’s plans.

Premium Blend are another side to watch out for, with a host of former Wollongbar players now playing Sydney first grade. They are joined by Queensland Reds Super 14 flanker Scott Higginbotham and Australian Sevens’ Tim Cornforth.

Mackell is particularly pleased that the event has attracted some high quality overseas outfits to proceedings, a key ingredient to give a tournament some extra oomph and star quality. Defending champions are the boys from the Fiji Uprising Resort. They swept to success last year and the Pacific Harbour team were the Darwin 7s Plate finalists and Brighton 7s Cup winners earlier this year. Uprising team trainer, Mahen Kumar, is feeling confident about his sides's prospects.

“We have a very strong backline – very fast and still young with potential to grow. We’ve seen amazing results. Two of our boys have gone to try-out for our national team,” said Kumar.

With the side reportedly in training every day, the sensible money would probably on them. Kiwi side, ‘Bulldagz’, would disagree with me though and last year’s beaten finalists will out be for some revenge and a share of the generous $17,500 pot on the table.

The women’s event was introduced three years ago and has gone from strength to strength. Mackell cites one of his best Byron memories being the epic finale a couple of years back, with Silver Ferns and Moari Women providing a Sevens masterclass throughout the weekend.

This time around expect Eastsyde and Napier Pirates NZ to do all the running but the New Guinea Defence Team are an unknown quantity and could deliver.

Popular as ever

Although the competition will be fierce Mackell has also realised that many of the teams heading to Byron, are looking to enjoy themselves. This makes getting the balance right a key aspect of the weekend. With the friendly locals enjoying the free action, some exuberant Aussie banter, all while staying hydrated in the 26 degree sunshine, you can see why it has proved popular. Importantly it has maintained its honesty and stayed loyal to its grassroots.

And that’s how Mackell plans to keep it. There are no obvious plans to expand, with the tournament running at capacity as it is, although some more overseas teams wouldn’t go amiss.

Although it has made a buzz in some official Australian Rugby circles, Sevens foray into the Olympics hasn’t made that much of impact as of yet for Mackell. He argues that the sport is always battling for crowd and game support. New tournaments and more money from the ARU could change this, but it’s not happening overnight. Sevens could get big in Australia as the marketing men jump on the bandwagon, but there is something refreshing knowing that the likes of Byron will always keep its identity; a real beauty and very much one from the old school.