New Zealand Marist Sevens tournament this weekend

Community Sevens rugby resumes this weekend with the annual New Zealand Marist Federation Club Sevens tournament in Wellington.

The tournament turns 21 this year and returns to Wakefield Park in Wellington where it has been played on each of the past two years.

It runs over two days on Saturday and Sunday from early morning to early afternoon, aligning with the international Sevens on both afternoons at Westpac Stadium so players and supporters can attend that too.

There are two men’s pools of four teams (MSP B and HOBM B teams to be added) each and one four-team women’s pool.

Wellington’s Marist St Pat’s are both the defending men’s and women’s champions. Last year’s men’s final was an all MSP club affair with the A team defeating the B side 51-10 in the final.The MSP Women beat Hastings Rugby & Sports 29-24 in a golden point thriller in the last match of the day between the two unbeaten teams.

Teams from throughout the North Island are entered, from Whangarei down to Wellington, while the sole South Island team is the South Island Marist composite side in the women’s section.

A North Island Marist side in the men’s tournament is made up of the Napier Old Boys Marist B team. NOBM were the decisive Hawke’s Bay club rugby 15s champions in 2016.

The clubs involved are: Marist St Pat’s, Hutt Old Boys Marist (two men’s teams and one women’s team each), Hastings Rugby & Sports (men’s and women’s), Palmerston North HSOB Marist (men’s), NOBM (men’s), Whakatane Marist (men’s) and Whangarei Marist (men's). 

Men’s and Women’s New Zealand Marist 7s teams will be selected following play on day two. Jerseys will be presented to them after the finals.

Play starts at 8.30am on both mornings with the last men’s games starting at 12.10pm on Saturday and the women’s final commencing at 12.20pm.

Pools and Day One Draw

To be finalised Friday evening.