Piri Weepu Invitational Sevens on Saturday

Above: William Jones Park in Wainuiomata is set to come alive on Saturday for the second annual Piri Weepu Invitational Sevens tournament

?The second annual Piri Weepu Invitational Sevens Tournament this weekend at William Jones Park in Wainuiomata will feature a host of leading players from around Wellington and elsewhere lining up in the one of the 12 teams entered in the main men’s draw.

The day-long tournament on Saturday, hosted by the Wainuiomata Rugby Club, was started last year by Ulalei Wellington, the organisation formed by four of Waiuiomata’s famous rugby families in 1990 - the Weepu, Laban, Va’a and Umaga families.

As well as the hopeful appearance of Piri Weepu, several other prominent current and ex players and rugby identities are expected to take part on and off the field.

With no shortage of exciting rugby, there’ll be entertainment for the kids and lots of food - with two barbecues running on the sideline.

Five Wellington Club teams are playing: Wainuiomata, Upper Hutt, Hutt Old Boys Marist, Upper Hutt and the Wests Roosters.

These teams are joined by the Ulalei Invitation side, two Fijian invitational teams, the Fiji Warriors and Lomaiviti Wellington, three more Wellington-based invitational sides and a team from? the Hastings Rugby and Sports Club that were beaten finalists in this year’s Hawke’s Bay Maddison Trophy Premier club competition.

Additionally, there will be two women’s matches played between the Wainuiomata and Wellington representative teams.

The Wellington representative team are the defending champions, beating a Fijian Invitational side in the final of last year’s inaugural tournament.

This tournament is being held a week out from the Central Zone provincial representative Sevens tournament held at Palmerston to decide qualification for the National Sevens in Queenstown in the New Year.

Pools:

Pool A: Wellington Barbarians, HOBM,? Hastings Rugby and Sports

Pool B: Ulalei Invitation, Upper Hutt, These Guys (a Wainuiomata team)

Pool C: Wellington Saints, Wainuiomata, Lomaiviti Wellington

Pool D: Fiji Warriors, MSP, OBU

The first Pool Game is at 9.00am, the Bowl final starts at 4.20pm, followed by the Plate final from 4.40pm and the Cup final from 5.00pm.