DEFENDING CHAMPIONS BACK FOR $40,000 HYPERION GOLD COAST SEVENS
Rugby 7s, August 3: One of the most feared teams in the world of Sevens Rugby, Fiji's South Sea Island Drifters and Brisbane's giant-killing Eastsyde women's team will return to defend their $40,000 Hyperion Gold Coast International Sevens titles at Surfers Paradise in November 2010.
Rugby Gold Coast chairman Murray d'Almeida made the announcement at today's official launch of the 2010 Hyperion Gold Coast International Sevens at Northcliffe Beach.
Mr d'Almeida also welcomed award-winning equities fund manager, Hyperion Asset Management, who has again linked with Rugby Gold Coast as the tournament's major naming rights sponsor.
This follows Hyperion's successful partnership with last year's inaugural Gold Coast Sevens tournament.
Hyperion's Managing Director Dr Manny Pohl joined Mr d'Almeida as Rugby Gold Coast confirmed the lineup for this year's tournament.
Hyperion, fellow sponsor KooGa and local team the Gold Coast Breakers all provided teams in a series of beach Sevens games to launch this year's event at Australia's premier surf club.
Wallaby greats Garrick Morgan and Elton Flatley joined Surf Life Saving Ironmen Shannon Eckstein and Zane Holmes, amongst other Gold Coast sporting and media personalities who were on hand to pack down during a series of Sevens matches.
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Eckstein showed his skills were certainly not limited to the water, scoring a converted try as the Morgan led Breakers ran out 21-12 winners over Hyperion, with Flatley showing he's lost none of his skills, scoring one of two tries.
It was a strong show of support for the growing Gold Coast Sevens tournament which made a stunning debut last year in a weekend that has become firmly entrenched on the glitter strip's annual sporting calendar.
The Gold Coast will again play host to 16 of the world's leading men's teams and eight women's teams when the fast and furious game of Sevens is showcased at Albert Park on November 13 and 14.
The men's tournament could well develop into a grudge match between the rival Fijian teams with last year's runners-up the Uprising Beach Resort also backing up for another shot at the title.
But Australia's best may have something to say about that.
The tournament will again see the cream of Australia's Sevens players line up under the Aussie Spirit banner with coach Michael O'Connor's players coming off their 2010 Commonwealth Games campaign to Delhi in October.
Throw in local teams the Queensland Barbarians, which will be made up of Queensland Reds players and the Force 7s, from the Western Australian Rugby Union and the internationally acclaimed International Samurais from Great Britain and this year's tournament could will be a very competitive affair.
Rugby Gold Coast chairman Murray D'Almeida welcomed the sports stars and media representatives saying there could well be some future Olympians gracing the sands of Northcliffe.
"I can think of no better venue than at Australia's premier surf lifesaving club at Northcliffe to officially launch the 2010 Hyperion Gold Coast International 7s," said D'Almeida.
"Australia has so many fine young athletes who we saw on show here today and Sevens is all about providing a pathway for young players with their sites set on one day playing for the Wallabies.
"But it just so happens that pathway can now take a major diversion via the Commonwealth and Olympic Games and who knows maybe we've seen a future Olympian in action out here today.
"Last year's tournament was a great start to a great event and everyone at Rugby Gold Coast wants to make this year's Hyperion Gold Coast International 7s bigger and better than ever.
"We welcome Hyperion Asset Management back for their second term as our major sponsor and in this competitive market in
sport it is an association which we are delighted to be part of and we thank Dr Manny Pohl for his support.
"It is a partnership which I am confident will ensure the Gold Coast is given every chance to showcase Rugby Sevens on a world stage.
"Surely there can be no better city in Australia to host a major international Sevens event. We not only have a sports loving public but the Gold Coast is a destination for big time sport."
Tournament director Luca Liussi is excited about the teams who have already signed up to play in the 2010 Hyperion Gold Coast International 7s and some big-name teams who still have the tournament firmly on their radar.
"There certainly is a buzz out in the rugby world that the Gold Coast is a Rugby Sevens stop the top teams all want to make," said Liussi.
"Last year was a huge step forward for the Gold Coast and the talk around the world has been very positive indeed.
"I have spent much of the year on the IRB Sevens circuit and teams want to keep coming here which is great news for Rugby Sevens and the Gold Coast.
"There is no doubt we have everything on the Gold Coast to make this tournament a must for the best teams and the best players in the world.
"The Australians and some of the internationals will be coming off the Commonwealth Games so there could well be plenty of hype.
"This year's tournament is going to be a must see event."
CONFIRMED TEAMS:
MEN:
1. Aussie Spirit (Australian Rugby Union)
2. PNG Aroma Coast (PNG)
3. Niue (Niue)
4. Qld Barbarians (S14 - Queensland Rugby Union)
5. The Force 7s (S14 - Western Australian Rugby Union)
6. South Sea Drifters (Fiji) - Cup winners 2009
7. Uprising Beach Resort (Fiji) - Runners up 2009
8. Air Pacific Global Waimanu (Fiji)
9. Country King Browns (Aus)
10. International Samurais (UK)
11. Davetalevu Rugby Club (FIJI)
12. Brisbane Nadi (Aus)
13. Sunnybank (Aus)
14. Gold Coast Breakers (Aus)
15. MMI Kimbe Rebels (PNG)
16. Tuggeranong Vikings (ACT)
WOMEN:
1. PNG Woman's Rugby Union (PNG)
2. PNG Woman's Defence Force (PNG)
3. Eastsyde (Brisbane)
4. Sunnybank (Brisbane)
5. Nerang (Gold Coast)