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By Nick Jordan.

It's no exaggeration to say the Wellington Sevens at Westpac Stadium is New Zealand's biggest party. High profile names such as Borat, Austin Powers, Fred Flintstone, and John Rambo have all graced the sun-drenched Cake-Tin extravaganza in previous years. It’s time to dust those costumes off people!

Held on the city's waterfront at the "Cake Tin", it's probably the zaniest weekend in world rugby. And it's certainly the highlight of the year for 35,000 spectators who sell out the event in less than 10 minutes, then spend the rest of the year preparing their costume, making the logistical arrangements (late flights out are preferred) and fortifying themselves for more than 16 hours of sun-drenched action and entertainment.

Everyone loves an underdog

It's a programme that presents sevens as it should be - fast, exciting and unpredictable in front of a fun-loving audience enjoying the festival atmosphere, whether they have a team to cheer for or not. Chances are that they will. Every year a crowd favourite emerges, such as the USA who beat both Fiji and England in pool play, Canada who won the Plate final over South Africa, Argentina (the perennial favourite with the ladies), the Cook Islands who knocked over England last year, then there was Niue who won a minor final with a squad drawn from a population of 2000, and of course Kenya.

The Africans first appeared in Wellington in 2003 when the raucous reputation of the event was growing exponentially. They didn't make the cut that year but their beaming smiles, their blistering speed and their warm-up and warm-down routines - a series of claps, kicks and twirls - delighted those sections of the crowd lucky enough to have them perform in front of them.

Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!

In fact, and aside from Austin Powers, probably the only dance the revellers love more is New Zealand's haka. Only unleashed when they win the tournament it took a long time to be seen at the Stadium. In the first-ever Wellington event (February 2000), and despite having Jonah Lomu and Christian Cullen in the side, the Kiwis bowed out in the semi final, whereupon 10,000 of the crowd headed home! Each of the next two years, one of which featured a staggering 78-0 win over Wales in the quarter final, the home fans were again disappointed.

But with 38-year old Eric Rush leading the way, the hoodoo was broken in 2003 with a 38-26 win over England. That was a match where the lead changed four times in the second half alone against a dangerous English outfit including playmaker Henry Paul. Victories again in 2004, 2005 and 2007 (featuring Victor Vito, a star on the rise in the Lomu mould) have restored the faith in the home town heroes.

Blockbuster Rugby

That match was one to behold, though there's no shortage of excitement on the field every year at every stage of the competition. The last three Cup finals have been decided by less than a try (Fiji actually beat South Africa in extra time) as have eight of the nine minor finals since 2006, and some of the best heart-stoppers come about as teams give it everything to make their first Plate final, or knock off a higher ranked opponent who find themselves in the Bowl, or simply lift their game a few notches in the Cake Tin cauldron.

The Pacific flavour comes through in the invitees, with the Cook Islands, Niue and Tonga joining core teams Fiji and Samoa. Many of these players were born, grew up or learned their rugby in New Zealand ensuring huge support from lei-wearing, drum-beating, flag-waving family and friends. And there are always a few settles to score - Fiji v Samoa and New Zealand v Australia should be the highlights in that respect this Friday evening. Perhaps teams getting knocked out can salvage some pride in the dodgeball competiton outside the stadium?!

Soundtrack to a New Zealand Summer

In what has become a Cake-Tin tradition the stadium is usually awash with sounds and entrance music befitting the different nations competing - adding to the Super Bowl-esque vibe.

The Kiwis will probably emerge from the tunnel to AC/DC's 'Back in Black' and depart to a local hit that everyone knows the words to. Wales normally get something from Tom Jones, the Scots have the Proclaimers and Springsteen's 'Born in the USA' is a favourite at other times over the weekend.

If and when the English win a match, the music across the PA is likely to be from Dad's Army - who do you think you are kidding Mr. Hitler if you think old England's done. Their exit soundtrack is similarly morbid with the ‘hip’ Coronation Street theme accompanying them out of the tournament! Something for English newcomers Ben Jones and Dan Norton to look forward to this weekend.

All-Dayer

Ten years old, and getting better every year, the Wellington Sevens is a must-do event if you can handle dressing up, dancing and having a drink or two over what becomes a very long weekend. It starts with the parade from Parliament to Civic Square on the Thursday and ends for most on the Sunday morning, about the time those flights start to head out of town.

Wellington and the sevens is a perfect match. The compact harbour city does events well and welcomes the players, the officials (normally the referees join the street parade holding white canes) and the visitors who add in the order of $15 million to the economy for the weekend. They say it is bigger than New Year's Eve for the pubs, cafes and restaurants of the capital.

This year many more will fill the streets as Day One falls on a public holiday, Waitangi Day; commemorating the founding of New Zealand.

What better way for the men in black to celebrate than with a victory sweet haka in front of 35,000 appreciative fans?

Here is a video of last year's final, between Samoa and New Zealand.