HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

words by josh ives

You remember those years of being a kid? The constant downer of having little to no pocket money to spend on lollies and other sweet-toothed goodies? Maybe you had siblings who also had the same problem. So when your Mum came home with a jumbo pack of the tiny candy bars you would only be allowed a “fun-sized” piece each and no more. Remember how good those used to taste! How you’d want more and more but Mum would hide the bag on a shelf unbefitting your small frame. Now fast forward to now – you’re an adult, you have spending money and you can buy all the Mars Bars you can handle! But that pack doesn’t taste quite as good as it used too!

Why? It’s because you now have it in abundance. You now no longer have to only limit yourself to a tiny morsel and can gorge yourself to the hospital bed if you’re into that kinda thing.

My point is: something is always sweeter if it’s limited.

So with that in mind, it’s time to get hyped, because the Rugby 7’s are back in town!

What are the Rugby 7’s? It’s all the thrill and intensity of a full rugby union stand-off packed into seven minute tantalizingly gripping halves and manned with only seven players on each team. It is to Rugby Union what the 20-20 is to cricket. Or more aptly in following with my candy analogy, what a fun-size Mars Bar is to the real deal. It’s short, sweet and electrifying in its pace and atmosphere.

For just three short days, running from Feb 3 -5, catch our boys in Green & Gold as they take on the titans from Ireland, Fiji, Scotland and New Zealand. Will the haka be enough to shake our spirit or can we answer the tribal call with a response of our own?

Or check out the hot streak our champion Aussie ladies have been on since the Olympics! Co-captain of the Women’s 7’s side, Sharni Williams is as excited as ever to be leading her country out there for the first time on home soil and is very optimistic about their chances. This call to arms means the world to her and she insists that this is as important as the Olympics, as it really paves the way for women in knocking down stereotypes and providing a platform to be a true role model for girls across the country interested in picking up a footie.

We’re just off the back of ‘Straya Day and I’d say we’re all feeling pretty patriotic right now. Get on down to Allianz Stadium this Feb and channel that pride into supporting our country take it home in the Rugby 7’s.