Rugby: Sevens legends to hit Northland

Local sevens teams are being invited to snap up the remaining few spots for this weekend's inaugural Northland Fiji Sports Sevens tournament in Whangarei.

Tournament director Soro Ramacake says there has been plenty of interest in the tournament from outside the region, but wanted to give local teams the final choice.

"We're hoping to expose talent to the local clubs," Ramacake said.

"The aim is really to compete with the best who are coming from outside Northland, and for local teams to gauge where they're at with players who regularly play on the sevens circuit.

"What we're also trying to do is make it an annual event, [we'll] gauge from this year how it goes and get some more sponsors on board to increase the prize money."

Locals will not only be able to test themselves against regular sevens players but also some genuine New Zealand and Fijian sevens legends.

Ramacake said renowned New Zealand sevens exponents Amasio Valence, Waisiki Masirewa and Joeli Vidiri will be bringing teams from Auckland, Waikato and Counties Manukau to this weekend's tournament at Old Boys' rugby grounds on Port Road.

"We're certainly going to be in for a feast of talent," he said.

Ramacake said he would give local teams until tomorrow to confirm their entry to the tournament.

Cash prizes of $5000 for the winner and $1000 for the runner-up are available and 16 teams have registered for the tournament so far.

Entry to the tournament will be by gold coin donation with part of the proceeds going to St John New Zealand.

Ramacake has urged anyone interested in bringing teams to the inaugural event to contact him on 021 071 0537 or email northlandfijisports@gmail.com.