88 teams do battle at Kinsale Sevens

EIGHTY-EIGHT teams. Two hundred games. A prize fund of €20,000.

The figures are finalised and the preparations complete for the Heineken Kinsale Sevens, which kick off on Friday, April 30.

The three-day festival includes sides from all over the world.

The Fiji Babas are returning to retain their Senior Men’s title but will face strong competition from rivals Kentz South Sea Drifters. The latter boasts Waisale Serevi, the George Best of the game.

“His craft and skills on the field have led to Serevi being widely acknowledged as the master genius of sevens rugby, internationally over the last ten years,” Ronan Kett, tournament director said at the launch at Heineken headquarters in Cork yesterday.

“He will be joining his fellow Fijians on the Kentz South Sea Drifters side. Serevi’s participation in the tournament confirms the high level of rugby and entertainment at the sevens.

“His presence, as well as other international players on many teams is sure to attract many sports fans from around the country and overseas to the tournament.

“Indeed several of the players have played at the top level this year in the IRB World Sevens series in Singapore and Hong Kong,” Kinsale RFC president Philip Stokes said.

“We have the best line-up of teams ever with more sides from France and Holland in particular. The quality of teams looks to be at a top level, with to sevens players wanting to include Kinsale on their playing calendar.”

Varsity Blues, from England, New Zealand Weakas, Suzies exiles from Holland, and 2002 Gladiators finalists are all set to compete.