New 7s format

This weekend’s CITC Rarotonga Club Sevens will see a new competition format introduced whereby for the next four weeks all teams will be ranked on a weekly basis.

The following week’s draw will be determined by where teams finish each week.

For Saturday’s games, teams have been ranked first to sixth based on results from the last sevens tournament played in early August – the Constitution Sevens – and have been divided into two pools of three teams.

In pool A are the Eels, Panthers and Cowboys while pool B comprises the Reds, Dragons and Bulls. All teams will play a total of three matches each week and will be seeded from first to sixth.

In the men’s division there is a $3000 prize to be shared out among all teams after four weeks of competition. The team that consistently finishes well-placed each week (after four weeks of competition) will take home the top prize.

In pool A the Eels team is coached by former national sevens coach Wally Tangata and is most likely the team to beat. The Eels won the CITC pre-season sevens and finished runner-up (to Aitutaki) in the Constitution Cup Sevens.

With sevens specialists Bruce Goldsworthy, Duane Gukisuva, Clive Nicholas and Teokotai Tuaivi Jnr involved they will certainly start favourites.

The Panthers are coached by coaching maestro Nooroa Tupa and he is sure to spring a few surprises. The Panthers will be strengthened by the availability of the CISA boys, so look for the likes of U19 players such as cousins Caleb and Tatuava Tatuava, Wallace Aroita and Turoa Kamana to feature in the Panthers team each weekend – especially with three matches per week being played.

The Cowboys are coached by former national sevens player Spoon Marsters and although they may struggle at first they could prove to be a dark horse and upset the favourites. Cowboys players to watch are workhorse Dennis Heather (on return from NZ), U19 Cook Islands winger Sema Robati, 21-year-old flyer Tokyo Aniterea and energetic Fijian loose forward Waisoi Karalo.

The pool B teams – the Reds, Dragons and the Bulls – will be previewed tomorrow.

Tomorrow’s matches will be played at the Avatiu Field starting at 2.30pm.