Parade, womens games kick off 7s

A chilled-out team parade and brilliant first up womens games yesterday set the tone for the 2011 Sevens in Heaven tournament.

Teams taking part in this years tournament sauntered across the BCI Stadium running track and assembled in front of the grand stand for the opening ceremony.

The highlight of the parade was the outstanding and spine tingling haka performed by Te Ara Wheke boys much to the delight of the gathering crowds and tournament players.

Minister of youth and sport Mark Brown welcomed international players to paradise and wished all teams the best of luck before declaring the three day tournament open.

As teams settled in their designated spots across the stadium the charity ANZ Bank dash for cash was staged with import players in the mens Tama Toa United and womens Avatiu Motor Centre Eels proving to have the speediest pins of the tournament.

The winning pair was given a list of local charities to which they could donate their winnings of $250.

At 4 oclock it was game time and it was the Vaine Toa rugby players that took to the pitch first for three extremely entertaining games.

The thrilling matches set a high standard of play for the 16 mens teams that took to the field yesterday for the first round of the tournament.

If you havent got tickets to the sevens tournament youre going to miss out on what will be one of the highest standard sevens tournaments staged in years.

Dont just read about it grab your tickets and get on up to the BCI Stadium and support the teams in the tournament.

Games today start at 1pm and on Saturday its going to be a full on day with games kicking off just before 10.30am.