American Ambassador’s club sevens series underway

UPDATE 2: A short, sharp sevens season in Wellington starts this Saturday at Onepoto Park, Titahi Bay, with the first tournament of the two-leg American Ambassador’s club series.

Some 16 teams will descend on Onepoto Park for the opening tournament, with the second and final leg set to be contested at Maidstone Park the following Saturday. The Saturday after that is marked down as a reserve day should there be a washout/postponement of either of the first two tournaments.

Hutt Old Boys Marist (Men’s) and Old Boys University (Women’s) will start as defending champions in what is always a super-competitive end to the rugby year. This is particularly so in the Women’s section where there have been five different winners in the past five years, while with no representative sevens rugby to follow in 2020 for most (see Ignite 7s below) players can leave it all on the line and then enjoy the summer off.

The men play for the American Ambassador’s Trophy, a prized piece of tin to fill any cabinet, and the women contest the Eleanor Roosevelt Cup.

The men’s winner of the American Ambassador’s series receives an invite to compete at the National Club Sevens tournament hosted by Ardmore Marist in Counties-Manukau in the New Year.

There is no Colts grade this year, so there could be some extra youth spread across the park, as well as the promise of some school leavers in action for their senior clubs for the first time.

The two-week series is based on points, and with the series reduced from three to two tournaments in recent years, a strong showing will be vital for teams harbouring hopes of taking out the silverware.

Tournament points

Draw: Confirmed teams and draw CLICK HERE >>> Tournament One Draw

The Hutt Old Boys Marist Eagles (Men’s) and Old Boys University (Women’s) will be out to retain their American Ambassador’s Sevens crowns.

The HOBM Eagles were beaten finalists in last year’s first tournament and winners of the second, while the OBU Impalas won back-to-back tournament victories.

HOBM were presented with the American Ambassador’s Cup for the first time since 2014, while OBU won the Eleanor Roosevelt Cup for the first time.

The Eagles return this year as one of 11 teams in the men’s grade, which include the return of recent top dogs the Upper Hutt Rams and also Stokes Valley.

The five men’s Premier clubs not represented this year are the Avalon Wolves, Paremata-Plimmerton, Tawa, Wainuiomata and the Wellington Axemen.

Men’s teams below:

1. Hutt Old Boys Marist
2. Johnsonville
3. Marist St Pats
4. Northern United
5. Old Boys University
6. Oriental Rongotai
7. Petone
8. Poneke
19. Stokes Valley
10. Upper Hutt Rams

There are seven Women’s sides, Norths being a notable omission.

Women’s teams below:

1. Avalon
2. Hutt Old Boys Marist
3. Marist St Pats
4. Old Boys University
5. Oriental Rongotai
6. Petone

Last five winners

Men’s
2019: Hutt Old Boys Marist
2018: Northern United
2017: Upper Hutt Rams
2016: Upper Hutt Rams
2015: Upper Hutt Rams

Women’s:
2019: Old Boys University
2018: Northern United
2017: Marist St Pat’s
2016: St Mary’s College
2015: Oriental-Rongotai

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A 52-strong group of Women’s players were named this week for the 2020 Red Bull Ignite 7s, to take place in Tauranga on 5-6 December (the men’s players will be announced in two weeks). Names below: