GOLD COAST INTERNATIONAL 7S - HEAVEN'S GAME ARRIVES IN PARADISE
August 28: Sevens Rugby, recommended for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games, will be showcased at the two-day Gold Coast International 7s at Albert Park, Surfers Paradise in November.
The event was launched at Conrad Jupiters today as South East Queensland's rugby faithful converged on the Gold Coast for the annual Greg Cornelsen Luncheon.
Sixteen men's teams in four pools, including the Australian Sevens Team and eight women's teams, including members of the World Cup winning Australian Women's 7's team will battle it out in the inaugural two-day event on November 7 and 8.
There has been world wide interest, particularly with the pending October 9 International Olympic Committee decision on the inclusion of Sevens Rugby and Golf on the 2016 Olympic program.
Organisers have also confirmed two Fijian teams, the Queensland Reds, the Gold Coast Breakers and several international professional teams for the men's event.
There is also serious interest from teams from the USA, Hong Kong, the Samoan National team and the Australian Barbarians.
Once there is confirmation from the top teams, organisers will then open the event to Brisbane and Sydney club teams.
In the women's event, consisting of eight teams over two pools, there is confirmation of participation from Queensland and the Arabian Gulf, with interest from the USA and NSW.
Rugby Gold Coast chairman Murray d'Almeida is excited about the unveiling of a major international event for the Gold Coast.
"The response has been extremely positive and to be able to attract some of the best Sevens players from around the world to the Gold Coast for our first ever international tournament is very encouraging," Mr d'Almeida said.
"We are all hoping that Sevens Rugby will be finally included on the 2016 Olympic program following the IOC membership vote in Copenhagen on October 9.
"Everyone in the rugby world has been very excited following the IOC Executive Board's recommendation - we now face another anxious wait.
"Rugby requires a fifty percent plus one vote from the members to ensure its inclusion and the message from the International Rugby Board is ‘don't be complacent' - this isn't the end, it is like the semi-final and we're through to the final.
"But all indications are that Rugby is very well placed and the pending decision really adds plenty of impetus for the Gold Coast International 7s.
"We would like the Gold Coast International Sevens event to become a part of an extended IRB Sevens World Series in the future."
Tournament director and current Australian Sevens manager Lucca Liussi knows what the Olympic inclusion will mean for the sport and the inaugural 7s event on the Gold Coast.
"With the announcement of Sevens Rugby becoming an Olympic sport we hope to grow the game of Rugby and Sevens in Australia and to promote the Gold Coast internationally as a tourist and high performance sporting destination," Mr Liussi said.
"We are planning a fun, festival type weekend with an international flavour and this will be reflected in the teams, the food, the colour, costumes and of course the rugby.
"We expect to involve all aspects of rugby development on the Gold Coast: Volunteers from schools and clubs, referees, judiciary and development officers with the vision to grow the game on the Gold Coast. We want Gold Coaster's to ... get involved!"
A who's who of rugby, including dual international and Australian coach Michael O'Connor and Sevens Rugby's two highest pointscorers, England's Gold Coast-based legend and Australian Sevens technical advisor Ben Gollings and Fijian Waisale Serevi (now the Fijian South Sea Drifters coach) will all be involved in the tournament.