8 teams in today’s sevens tourney

Saturday 11: The Manea Games rugby sevens gold medal team will add extra flavour to today’s one day Cook Islands Games competition.

The Aitutaki team arrived yesterday and includes fleet-footed former national rep Messine Manapori, skilful halfback/pivot Nga Taiti and tough forward Mati Messine.

Aitutaki will face vaka teams in today’s competition with the tournament to double up as part of the selection process for the 2009 Pacific Mini Games. The team at that event will be coached by sevens veteran Vaivase Samania.

A train-on squad of 20 players will be announced next week.

The Cook Islands Games sevens tournament will be held at the Tupapa field with the first game kicking off at 1pm.

Teams to take part in today’s tournament have been split into two pools with Vaka Te Au O Tonga, Atiu and Puaikura in pool A while pool B consists of Aitutaki, Vaka Takitumu and Mauke.

The sevens tournament is also the last of the Cook Islands Games codes to be played out and will be followed by the closing ceremony of the games.

The closing ceremony will be held at the National Auditorium starting at 6pm.

So grab your mats and head to Tupapa for a great afternoon of fast paced rugby sevens action.

- Matariki Wilson

Today’s sevens draw is as follows: 12.55pm - Teams to assemble on the halfway mark for the opening prayer, 1pm – Te Au O Tonga vs Atiu (pool A), 1.20pm - Aitutaki vs Takitumu (pool B), 1.40pm - Te Au O Tonga vs Puaikura (pool A), 2pm - Aitutaki vs Mauke (pool B), 2.20pm - Atiu vs Puaikura (pool A), 2.40pm –T akitumu vs Mauke (pool B), 3.15pm - semi final 1st pool A vs 2nd pool B, 3.35pm - semi final 1st pool B vs 2nd pool A, 3.55pm - placing play off 3rd pool A vs 3rd pool B, 4.30pm - bronze play-off between losers of the two semi final matches, 5pm - gold and silver play off between winners of the two semi finals match. - MW