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The inaugural Hyperion Gold Coast International Sevens tournament kicks off this weekend with 16 Men's Teams and four Women's Teams fighting it out for a $40,000 prize pool.

Billed as "Heavens game played in Paradise", the event will be held at Albert Park, Surfers Paradise on 7-8 November.

The Aussie Spirit side will act as an Australian Sevens shadow squad coached by Australian Sevens' Michael O’Connor. Another major domestic threat could come from the talented Queensland Barbarians.

The Baa-Baas include six Reds and one QAS Reds Academy player in the squad of 12, including powerful former Australian Sevens back-rower Scott Higginbotham and fellow Reds flanker Tasi Luafutu.

Reds lock Rob Simmons and hooker Saia Fainga are included whilst the speed will come from Reds’ wing Rod Davies and young Sunnybank flyer Matt Feanati. Nicky Price, a former representative for the Gold Coast’s AFL team, is also included and adds further pace out wide.

The Barbarians also boast some clever playmakers in the midfield with the likes of Reds scrumhalf Ben Lucas - another player with international Sevens experience - along with Academy fly-half Jono Lance and Brothers’ grand final winning fly-half Dallan Murphy.

Other teams hoping to challenge will be the always strong Uprising Beach Resort from Fiji and the Samoan Virgin Blue Islanders, a star studded team including England Sevens ace Ben Gollings and coached by former Grand Slam winning Wallaby Mark Ella. Papua New Guinea, managed by Fijian 7s legend Waisale Serevi, is also expected at Albert Park.

Michael O’Connor, who has been scouting at the Central Coast Sevens and Byron Sevens, will treating the event as a valuable lead-in and another selection trial ahead of the 2009-2010 IRB Sevens World Series circuit, which kicks off at the Dubai Sevens on 4-5 December.

Gold Coast International Sevens: Day 1 Draw

Men (Field 1):
Aussie Legends v Eagles 9.00
Queensland Barbarians v Warblers 9.20
MRDC Menjals (PNG) v Gold Coast Breakers 9.40
South Sea Drifters v Brisbane Nadi 10.00
Uprising Beach Resort v Norths 10.20
Samoa virgin Blue Islanders v Souths 10.40
Country King Browns v Sunnybank 11.00
Aussie Spirit v Island Breeze 11.20
Aussie Legends v Warblers 12.00
Queensland Barbarians v Eagles 12.20
MRDC Menjals (PNG) v Brisbane Nadi 12.40
South Sea Drifters v Gold Coast Breakers 13.00
Uprising Beach Resort v Souths 13.20
Samoa virgin Blue Islanders v Norths 13.40
Country King Browns v Island Breeze 14.00
Aussie Spirit v Sunnybank 14.20
Warblers v Eagles 15.00
Queensland Barbarians v Aussie Legends 15.20
Brisbane Nadi v Gold Coast Breakers 15.40
South Sea Drifters v MRDC Menjals (PNG) 16.00
Souths v Norths 16.20
Samoa virgin Blue Islanders v Uprising Beach Resort 16.40
Island Breeze v Sunnybank 17.00
Aussie Spirit v Country King Browns 17.20

Women (Field 2):
Qld Uni & Brothers v Wests Brisbane 9.00
Drake Insurance GC v Eastsyde Brisbane 9.20
Qld Uni & Brothers v Sydney Womens 10.40
Wests Brisbane v Eastsyde Brisbane 11.00
Drake Insurance GC v Sydney Womens 12.20
Qld Uni & Brothers v Eastsyde Brisbane 12.40
Wests Brisbane v Sydney Womens 14.00
Qld Uni & Brothers v Drake Insurance GC 14.20
Wests Brisbane v Drake Insurance GC 15.40
Eastsyde Brisbane v Sydney Womens 16.00