Eden, Marist and Suburbs head to Hamilton this weekend for the annual Middlesex Club Sevens.

Dubbed the ‘unofficial national club champs’, Hamilton’s Melville Club host the tournament as the defending champions.

Eden and Marist earned entry as the winner and runner-up of the Auckland Club Sevens, while Suburbs were invited to return after competing at the event on several occasions.

In 2013 Pakuranga was the first North Island club to win the title in more than 30 years. In the yesrs since, it has been won by clubs from Bay of Plenty, Wellington and Waikato.

Eden will be looking to kick the year off in a positive manner, after winning the club’s first ever senior title with the Club Sevens mantle in November.

The Costa brother, Ignacio, Rodrigo and Nico, anchor the side, while young speed-star Mosese Pepa will add some pace.

Team Manager Matt Atiga said the team has been working hard since confirming their attendance at the event. Last weekend they won the Cook Island Rugby NZ tournament.

“It was satisfying and a good result for the day's work but more importantly some much needed game time to prepare for this weekend’s National Club Sevens tournament,” said Atiga.

In regards to their goal this weekend, Atiga said it is pretty simple.

“Naturally the team want to win this weekend. 

“That's what we've trained hard for. Other goals would be to represent our club and union proudly and to the best of our ability, both on and off the field,” said Atiga.

Auckland Marist are taking an exciting, young team which will be led by the experience of David Afamasaga and Will Raea. The squad features five school leavers who have joined the club for 2017.

Suburbs did not submit a team ist.

Eden
1. Blake Hill
2. Nick Perez 
3. Sam Livington 
4. Nico Costa
5. Rodrigo Costa
6. Ignacio Costa
7. Jason Curran
8. Mosese Pepa 
9. Simon Filemoni
10. Olivier Roux
11. Lucks Funaki
12. Sione Katoa

Marist 
1 David Afamasaga 
2 Federick Cain 
3 Hoskins Sotutu 
4 Jacob Tamua Toga 
5 Tavake Makoni 
6 Iosefo Masoe 
7 Will Raea 
8 Melcom Andrews
9 Sitiveni Felise Manoa Manu 
10 Lui Morel 
11 Danyael Sinisa Fe-ao 
12 Jeremiah Pati