Serevi the star attraction at Kinsale

WAISALE SEREVI, the acknowledged genius of sevens rugby, will once again be the star attraction of the Heineken Kinsale Sevens, which takes place between April 30 and May 2 in the Cork town.

The legendary Fijian delighted the coastal community last year, taking centre-stage as the South Sea Drifters took the title.

Ronan Kett, tournament director, said he expects 60 teams to come to Kinsale during the May Bank Holiday weekend, with around 200 games of rugby likely to be played.

The international dimension to the tournament will be very much in evidence, with teams coming from both Belgium and Moldova, illustrating the fact that emerging rugby nations use the sevens code to develop the game, a point made by commentator Brent Pope at yesterday’s launch in Lansdowne Road.

“Emerging nations that would find it difficult to field 15 players of decent quality. Nations that wouldn’t have the depth for that are given the opportunity to advance with the sevens game.

“So, it has been an enormous help to countries like Spain and Portugal and it will be good for the Asian game as well.”

Christian Cullen and Zinzan Brooke are just two leading players who started in the sevens game and the continued global growth of the game has ensured that the IRFU are taking a more focused approach.

“With the Rugby World Cup sevens coming up next year,” said IRFU’s Eddie Wigglesworth, “we have begun to look at sevens in our strategic review. The Irish team have to go to Poland, Croatia and Barcelona for qualifying games so it is a growing sport.”

The Irish Examiner are the media partners for the event which pumps 6 million annually into the Kinsale economy and could be even more this year with speakers including Mick Galwey, Alan Gaffney, Christian Cullen and Jonathan Davies.

Teams confirmed to date include Varsity Blues; Seven Dwarves from England; 2002 finalists Gladiators; St Mary's College; Suzies Exiles from Holland and two teams from Fiji, both with a winning pedigree at Kinsale. Three-time winners Kentz South Sea Drifters will seek emulate their win last year, whilst Fiji Babas return to reclaim the Senior Men’s Title.