Editorial: Daddy of all parties embraced

It is hard to see Sevens Wellington losing its appeal writes Charlton. Photo / Warren Buckland

There is a rather startling image on the front page of today's paper.

Five adult-sized babies, their faces contorted into grotesque expressions of anger and pain, are packed into a car.

Their repulsive expressions, to put it bluntly, are an eyesore. The oversized babies' matching T-shirts state: "Glad I'm out ... I was running out of womb."

Sevens Wellington is back.

The annual tournament which rolls into Wellington is, I believe, one of the best parties on offer for those with any sort of festive inclination.

I have attended for the past two years and enjoyed every minute of it.

Few, if any, events in New Zealand can match Sevens Wellington for the large-scale festival it brings to its host city. And it is Wellington's readiness to embrace the party which sets the event apart.

Remarkably, the inaugural Auckland Nines rugby league competition which follows it a week later, has sold more than 44,000 tickets, with extra seating on offer.

It will be interesting to see how the two events will operate in tandem over the next few years.

It is hard to see Sevens Wellington losing its appeal. But could it be rivalled?

While it appears the fan base is big enough for both to operate simultaneously, the rivalry for bums on seats has begun. That rivalry is not just for the Sevens and the Nines event organisers, but extends to the cities of Wellington and Auckland.

It may just be the spark needed to keep things fresh.