Planning is under way for a major new rugby sevens tournament in Invercargill.
It was hoped the tournament, organised by Rugby Southland with assistance from the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT), would attract up to 20 men's and women's provincial and high-level club teams from all over New Zealand and some from Australia, Rugby Southland chief executive Brian Hopley said this week.
It would be held in late November or December, possibly coinciding with the SIT graduation weekend, and would be a lead-in to the national sevens competition in January, he said.
There has been no major sevens tournament in the South since last year when Queenstown lost the rights to host the annual national sevens. Queenstown built up that event over a decade to the point where it attracted about 10,000 spectators annually.
Mr Hopley said Invercargill's ''fairly high level'' event would strengthen sevens competition in the South and ''greatly benefit'' the city.
''We want to create a carnival-like atmosphere. An event like this affects the whole community by lifting spirits, as well as the economic gain to be made by all.''
However, he said running such a tournament was costly. Decent prize money would have to be put up to attract teams south and Rugby Southland needed support from funders and potential sponsors before the tournament could be confirmed.
Just before Christmas, SIT gave its support, deputy chief executive Bharat Guha said.
SIT students studying a variety of disciplines including event management, sport sciences, sports analysis, sports administration, media, and video analysis would gain practical first-hand experience by helping to organise the tournament and assisting with other Rugby Southland initiatives throughout the year.
As part of the relationship between the two organisations, Southland Stags players would join SIT staff at secondary schools, open days and expos throughout the country and visit their respective home towns to promote Invercargill and SIT as a place of study.
Mr Hopley said he was hopeful the tournament would go ahead this year, or next year if arrangements could not be finalised in 2014.
''If we do it right we will attract teams from all over, and spectators.''
