A Beginner's Guide To Surviving The International Rugby Sevens

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The seven-player form of the sport rugby union is helpfully also known simply as '7s'. National teams compete in a globetrotting tournament series which stops in nine countries and six continents.

With less than half the number of players that run onto the field in the traditional format of the game, yet still played in the same sized arena, the pace is hectic.

It's no surprise then, that in order to participate you need to train hard, you need to be super fit and ready for the fight - and that's just the battle for tickets if you want to be there in person to witness the action.

All that training is not going to count for anything if your concentration and reaction speed just aren't up to it on the big day. Once you make it there, games will last 15 minutes - but the pre-trial in which you will need to prove yourself will be a window of opportunity of only a mere 2 or 3 minutes. For that is the amount of time in which it takes tickets to sell out for the Wellington tournament. Unless you are prepared to buy a hospitality package, or have the right connections, you're going to be limbering up with finger poised - ready to hit the redial button on your phone, the refresh link on your internet browser, or if you got a little cunning, both simultaneously.

Ok then, let's assume you were successful in securing tickets - congratulations! The question you are now faced with is "To costume, or not to costume?". While fancy dress is by no means compulsory, the vast majority do morph into an alter ego for the weekend - and not always one of the human variety either. Forget all about which team you are intending to support, as the normal tradition of dressing in your team's colours doesn't apply when it comes to '7s'. You and the other members of your group will need to come up with a theme, or if that is just a bit too time consuming, head into your local costume hire shop and see what is available. It will become evident that some spend a lot of time, thought and energy into transforming themselves. In return they will have significantly improved their chances of snaring one of the many cash and flight ticket prizes which are given away.


All set now? Great - here's some pointers for the big weekend;


- If you want to sound like a local, just mention that you're off to 'The Cake Tin'. This doesn't mean you're going to spend the day consuming a variety of baked goods. The reason for the stadium's nickname will become evident once you get there.

- Arrange ahead of time where you are going to meet up with friends, or just text them. Don't bother trying to call them from inside the stadium - you're probably not going to be able to hear whoever is on the other end of the line.

- That number and letter next to the word 'Aisle' on your ticket - don't take too much notice of them. While you can sit in your assigned seat if you wish, generally people just grab a seat 'wherever' and move around a lot during the day.

- Better known for long distance achievements, Kenya are traditionally (second) crowd favourites - and punch well above the weight of a minnow nation.

- Copious amounts of alcohol tend to get consumed over the weekend. If that's not your thing, just try and talk your way into the 'family zone'.

- You are not guaranteed a performance of the haka by the men in black. The team only perform it at '7s' if victorious in the cup final.

- Disappointed that the team you're following (that is, if you are actually there to watch the rugby), have dropped out on finals day? Don't take off straight away to drown your sorrows - come down to the fenceline and see the team as they do their 'meet-the-crowd farewell lap'.

- And one last tip, for shorter queues at bars and food outlets, check when the Kiwi team plays, and plan accordingly - for these are the only times during the weekend that the concourse area will be near empty.

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