Rugby Sevens: Wellington's biggest party kicks off

Tongan ninjas delighting children watching the Wellington Sevens parade, ahead of the Hertz Sevens Tournament at Westpac Stadium tomorrow and Saturday. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Lollipops were flying, dance groups were chanting, and Austen Powers was singing as Wellington's biggest party kicked into full swing today.

Rugby sevens teams from around the world, in town for round four of the Sevens International Series, paraded through the CBD at lunchtime.

Lambton Quay was brought to a stop as the 16 teams, who have been training in Wellington all week, waved to the thousands there to support them, from Parliament to Civic Square.

Any open space was filled as workers leaned out of high-rise buildings and children sat on sculptures to catch a glimpse of their favourite teams.

A family of five in the crowd were torn between who to support, with father David Catherall from New Zealand and mother Renee from Canada.

Ms Catherall said her three school-age children had to support Canada until they lost and then the children could support New Zealand.

The family, who were all wearing Canadian T-shirts, aside from Mr Catherall who had on a New Zealand T-shirt but waved a Canadian flag, was planning on watching some of the games on television over the next two days, Ms Catherall said.

Today's parade was great because of the atmosphere and because they did not have to take their children out of school for it, Mr Catherall said.

Just down the road was 6-year-old Thomas Gee, who was waving a large Welsh flag as he patiently waited for his favourite team to come down Lambton Quay.

One of the first supporters to turn up for the parade, Thomas and his father had a prime spot right on the edge of the road.

Thomas, who had watched the parade last year too, said the best part about rugby was watching tries being scored.

Tickets for this weekend's tournament sold out within three minutes late last year.

The tournament, known just as much for the party as it is for the rugby, kicks off at 1pm tomorrow, with the final game played at 9.30pm on Saturday.