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Australian Rugby Sevens coach Michael O’Connor will cast a keen eye over the ARU Schools Rugby Sevens finals at St Ignatius College, Riverview in Sydney on Wednesday.

O’Connor, who has just returned home from a successful Hong Kong Sevens campaign where Australia claimed the Plate final, will observe the next generation of up and coming talent when eight Schoolboy Sevens sides battle it out for top honours at the inaugural tournament.

O'Connor has been an interested spectator at various Australian tournbaments over the last few months.

Action kicks off with an all-NSW clash between Prairiewood and host school St Ignatius at 9.50am while fellow NSW representatives Hills Sports High and Granville Boys High will meet in the following match at 10.10am.

 Keebra Park State High School and Ipswich Grammar make up the Queensland contingent, while Marist College and St Edmunds College represent the ACT.

ARU High Performance Unit director David Nucifora and Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans will also be keen onlookers and will be in attendance for the Cup Final which is set to get underway at 4.10pm. Nucifora says the ARU is placing added importance on the Sevens program.

 “The Australian Rugby Sevens program over the past few years has opened up opportunities for many young players,” Nucifora said.

 “The current squad includes two boys out of last year’s Australian Schools team in Liam Gill and Kimami Sitauti.

 “A national Schools Sevens program will form an important part of the pathway for both the game of Sevens and 15-man Rugby.

“A number of young players have graduated via the Sevens program in recent years either directly to the Wallabies or onto the Super Rugby squads.

 “Players in this tournament today and in coming years could very well be competing for Australia in Brazil in 2016 in the Olympic Rugby Sevens.”

The tournament follows New Zealand's National Schools competition, which took place last weekend at the Condor Sevens.

Australian Rugby's Talent ID looking healthy