RL World Sevens returns

Austadiums • Monday 16th December 2002
The rugby league World Sevens has been resurrected and will go head to head with its rival rugby union competition in February next year and will involve all 15 NRL clubs.

Chairman of both the Australian Rugby League and the International Rugby League Federation, Colin Love said that he was confident the February 1-2 tournament would be as successful as it was when it was last held back in 1997 and isn't fazed about the clash with rugby union's World Sevens.

"We are confident in our own tournament," said Love.

"Clubs thought we needed this for the good of the international game, which is very encouraging when you see the clubs putting the big picture ahead of their own vested interests.

"We had some of the players, like Andrew Johns advocating a return of this sort of football and we had the fans at the Dally M awards this year crying out for the return of the sevens."

Despite the fact that the 24-team tournament, which will be held at Aussie Stadium in Sydney, doesn't have a major sponsor, Love said that $100,000 prizemoney would be awarded to the winner.

Along with the 15 NRL clubs, the main draw will also feature England, France, Russia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Lebanon, Tonga and Samoa.

The 24th and final spot will come from the winner of a qualifying tournament to be held at St Marys in Sydney the previous Wednesday. The qualifiers will be fought out between American Samoa, Cook Islands, Serbia and Japan with other potential participants including teams representing New Zealand Maoris, Australian Aborigines and NSW Country.

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The rugby league World Sevens has been resurrected and will go head to head with its rival rugby union competition in February next year and will involve all 15 NRL clubs.
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