Ulalei Sevens tournament on Saturday

Above: Last year’s Wellington Ulalei Sevens tournament winners the Apia Auckland Maroons, who are back this year to defend their title.

The annual Ulalei Wellington Sevens tournament is being staged at Porirua Park this Saturday.

The one-day tournament being played at Jerry Collins Stadium features 12 teams in four pools of three, with games starting at 9.00am and running through to after 5.00pm when this year’s Ulalei Sevens champions will be crowned.

The tournament is held every year a week before the international Sevens Tournament in Wellington, and this year’s will feature several quality sides said Ulalei Wellington Sports Incorporated Chairman Tupuola Masunu Tuisila.

“The tournament has been reduced from 16 teams to 12 teams, so the rugby promises to be close and exciting,” said Tuisila who is also the current manager of the Samoan International Sevens team.

Head Samoan Sevens coach Damian McGrath will be present and also keeping his eye open for fresh talent.

The Ulalei club started in the 1950s in Samoa out of a village named Vaiala, near Apia. Playing rugby, as well as other sports such as cricket, volleyball and netball, it soon grew and attracted people from elsewhere.

Ulalei came to New Zealand with subsequent immigration and the original Ulalei club in Wellington started in the late 1980s.

Tuisila said the Wellington Ulalei tournament fell away before being revived. “Ken Laban and I revived it in the early 2000s – this weekend’s Sevens tournament is out 10th anniversary since we started it up again in 2006.”

Details at a glance:

What: Ulalei Wellington Sevens tournament
Where:Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua Park (free entry)
When: Saturday 23 January (all day)
Who: Twelve open club and sevens teams

The Pools are:

Pool A: Apia Auckland Maroons, Hawke’s Bay Samoans, Ngati Toa
Pool B: Wellington Flyers, Moataa, Apia Maroons Wellington
Pool C: Wainuiomata, Marist St Pat's, Wellington Maroon
Pool D: Upper Hutt Rams, Falefa, Barbarians

The Draw is:

9.00am: Apia Auckland Maroons v Ngati Toa
9.20am: Wellington Flyers v Apia Maroons Wellington
9.40am: Wellington Maroon v Wainuiomata
10am: Upper Hutt Rams v Barbarians
10.20am: Hawke’s Bay Samoans v Ngati Toa
10.40am: Moataa v Apia Maroons Wellington
11.00am: Marist St Pat's v Wellington Maroon
11.20am: Falefa v Barbarians
11.40am: Apia Auckland Maroons v Hawke’s Bay
12.00pm: Wellington Flyers v Moataa
12.20pm: Wainuiomata v Marist St Pat's
12.40pm: Upper Hutt Rams v Falefa
1.30pm: Bowl semi-final 1
1.50pm: Bowl semi-final 2
2.10pm: Plate semi-final 1
2.30pm: Plate semi-final 2
2.50pm: Cup semi-final 1
3.10pm: Cup semi-final 2
3.50pm: Bowl Final
4.10pm: Plate Final
4.30pm: Cup Final