Inaugural Hurricanes Secondary School Sevens on Saturday

UPDATED FRIDAY: Twenty school teams from the lower and central North Island are scheduled to descend on Palmerston North for the inaugural Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council Sevens Tournament this coming Saturday.

Twelve boys’ and eight girls’ schools will compete across six pools in the tournament, hosted by the Manawatu Rugby Union at Massey University. Schools from around the Hurricanes region from Wellington, Manawatu, Wanganui, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wairarapa-Bush have entered teams.

For several teams, including Wellington’s St Pat’s Silverstream and Scots College, this tournament will act as a warm-up for the National Condor Sevens taking place in Auckland in three weeks. For others it’ll be the last time they don their school colours on the rugby field, so they will be keen to finish their school careers with a flourish.

St Pat’s Silverstream, Scots College, Wellington College and St Pat’s Town are the four Wellington schools involved in the boys section. sT Pat's Silverstream (Pool A) and Scots College (Pool C) will line up in different pools, while St Pat's Town and Wellington College are grouped together in the other pool (Pool B).?

A few other schools, including Wellington's Rongotai and St Oran's Colleges, were previously entered but NCEA exam commitments have taken precedence and many students will be swapping their boots for books.

Hurricanes Youth Council Chairman Gordon Noble-Campbell said it is hoped that the tournament will become a permanent fixture on the calendar.

"As part our role in development rugby within the Hurricanes Region, the Council is keen to promote the growth of the Sevens Game, potentially opening the door to a larger pool of players who might not ordinarily choose rugby as a 15-a-side winter code,” said Noble-Campbell.

“There is no restriction on entry, like most tournaments, we imagine it will gather additional momentum in subsequent years.

“Palmerston North is ideally placed for the Tournament and the Council appreciates the support of the Manawatu Rugby Union in supporting the Tournament."

The tournament is short and sharp, with pool play starting at 10.00 am, the crossover matches scheduled to start at 1.00 pm and the respective girls and boys finals at 2.20 pm pm and 3.10 pm. Games are played simultaneously across all four fields at Massey.

The schools competing:

Boys

Scots College

St Pat’s Silverstream

St Pat’s Town

Wellington College

Waiopehu College

Wanganui Collegiate

Palmerston North Boys’ High School

Hawera College

Tararua College

Hastings Boys’ High School

Kapiti College

St Peter’s College Palmerston North

Girls

Feilding High School Blue

St Peter’s College Pn

Karamu HS

Wanganui Girls’ College

Paraparaumu Collge

New Plymouth GHS

Palmerston North Girls HS

Feilding High School Red

Schedule:

Boys pool play between 10.20 am – 1.00 pm

Girls pool play between 10.00 am – 2.40 pm

Boys semi-finals 2.00 pm

Boys 3rd-4th playoff 2.50 pm pm

Girls final 2.20 pm

Boys final 3.10 pm