Eden and Marist will look to defend their respective trophies in Saturday’s Auckland Club Sevens tournament at Waitemata Park.

Now seen as a key event on the sevens calendar, this tournament will not only provide clubs with the chance to win silverware and promote their players for 2018, but also a last chance to impress the Auckland Sevens selectors, who will name wider training squads at the conclusion of the day.

Eden is the defending open men’s champion and is fresh from winning last weekend’s Ranga Sevens in Pakuranga. However, it will have to make do without the skilled Costa brothers, who will be at the Cook Islands Sevens in Rarotonga this weekend.

“Eden will be going for a second title and they have a very good team, by all accounts. They’ll be tough to beat,” says tournament director David Gainsford.

There are 14 teams, out of 16 premier clubs, in the open men’s field. Marist and Suburbs, two of the 2016 semifinalists, are again likely to challenge strongly.

“It’s interesting. It’s unfortunate that Te Papapa-Onehunga are not there this year, otherwise we would have had the full completion of premier clubs. But the standard, I am sure, will be quite high. It sounds like recruitment is going well for some clubs,” says Gainsford.

The Under 20 men’s section, won in 2016 by Suburbs, is again an important division for both development and unearthing young, often schoolboy, talent. There are 14 teams in all in this grade.

“The 20s grade in sevens has always been a bit of a recruitment tool. Seeing the younger ones coming through has been really good for the game,” adds Gainsford.

The women’s competition will see seven teams lining up.

“It’s good to see some of the women’s teams coming through. The likes of Papatoetoe have got two women’s teams this year. Mt Wellington didn’t have a 15s team this season, but have entered a sevens team. Marist will be tough to beat, having won the 15s title as well.”

Clubs are allowed to enter three marquee, or outside, players who were not registered to their club in 2017, so there may be some ‘unknowns’ with real pace setting Waitemata Park alight on Saturday.

Auckland men’s sevens coach Ed Cocker and his women’s counterpart Crystal Kaua will be on hand with their notebooks as they plan their strategies and personnel ahead of the December northern region qualifiers and January nationals in Rotorua.

It is a big week for the Waitemata club, with the Under 15s schools sevens tournament on today (Wednesday), and the open women’s sevens trial on Sunday.

Kickoff on Saturday is at 9am, with free entry and parking to Waitemata Park.

The full draw will be confirmed on Friday. – Campbell Burnes