Sixth annual Piri Weepu Sevens tournament on Saturday

Twelve men’s and four women’s teams will take the field at William Jones Park in Wainuiomata this Saturday in the sixth annual Piri Weepu Invitational 7s tournament.

Teams from Horowhenua-Kapiti and Hawke’s Bay are coming down to join several Wellington club and invitational teams in this year’s event.

Wellington clubs taking part are host club Wainuiomata (men’s and women’s), the Wellington Axemen, Paremata-Plimmerton, Petone, Old Boys University (men’s and women’s) and Marist St Pat’s (men’s and women’s).

Hawke’s Bay club Napier Pirate was last year's runner-up, and is etnered again with their men’s squad, whilst other visiting teams are the Horowhenua Barbarians and Porirua-based club Ngati Toa who play in the Horowhenua-Kapiti club competition.

Intrigue surrounds the make-up of other invitational teams, the Brothers in Arms, the Billy Weepu 7s, the Wolf Pack 7s and the Wainuiomata Invitational (women’s) teams.

For the last local rugby event in 2016, fans can head along to William Jones Park to watch the tournament which runs on one field from 9.00 am to approximately 4.40 pm when the men’s final kicks off.

As well as the rugby, a barbecue will be firing up outside the clubrooms and the bar inside will be open from about midday.

The Piri Weepu tournament began in 2011 and is now established on Wellington’s sevens calendar, as well as being the final local tournament of the year. It also assists in the development of young and up-and-coming players within the Wainuiomata Alan Parlachief Rugby Academy.

Weepu himself is in France, where he will be keeping a close on the tournament from afar.

There are four trophies up for grabs, the men’s Cup, Plate and Bowl and the Women’s title.

Last year the tournament was taken out by Wanganui raiders Ngamatapouri, who beat Napier Pirate 33-24 in the Men’s Cup final after both sides had shut out Wellington clubs Old Boys University and Wainuiomata respectively in the semi-finals. The women’s section was won by Marist St Pat’s who defeated Hutt Old Boys Marist in the final.

The weather forecast is patchy for Saturday, but the rugby should keep things hot all day.

Tournament details:

What: Piri Weepu Invitational 7s tournament
Where: William Jones Park, Wainuiomata
When: Saturday 26 November. 9am-5pm (appoximately)

Facebook coverage: Follow the tournament’s event page here 

Pools
Men’s Pool A: Wellington Axemen, Brothers in Arms, Ngati Toa
Men’s Pool B: Wainuiomata, Paremata-Plimmerton, Billy Weepu 7s
Men’s Pool C: Old Boys University, Napier Pirate, Wolf Pack 7s
Men’s Pool D: Petone, Horowhenua Barbarians, Marist St Pat’s
Women’s Pool E: Marist St Pat’s, Wainuiomata, Old Boys University, Wainuiomata Invitational

Schedule
Men’s pool play between 9.00 am and 1.32 pm
Women’s pool play between 10.08 am and 1.49 pm
Men’s Bowl semi-finals: 2.06 pm and 2.23 pm
Men’s Plate semi-finals: 2.40 pm and 2.57 pm 
Men’s Cup semi-finals: 3.14 pm and 3.31 pm
Women’s final 3.48 pm
Men’s Bowl final: 4.05 pm 
Men’s Plate final 4.22 pm
Men’s Cup final 4.39 pm