The Southern Storm is destined to become the first South Island side to play in the Cook Islands Sevens tournament when it takes the field next week at the event dubbed The Sevens in Heaven.
The team, made up of players from the Central and South Otago club competitions, has been pooled with local sides Avatiu/Nikau Rugby and Titikavika and will play its first match on day one of the tournament, scheduled to start on Friday.
Other New Zealand sides attending include a Hastings-based side and a team from the College Rifles club in Auckland.
Three women's teams will also feature.
The Southern Storm was formed as the result of a joke between player-coach Dan Iosefo and his fiance, Queenstown sports massage therapist Rebecca Whyte, who has been involved in the event previously.
And after legendry Cook Islands sevens player Koiatu Koiatu saw the Otago Country side play in the Queenstown sevens earlier this year, he put in a recommendation and an invitation was extended.
Iosefo, who has played in many national sevens tournaments, approached some of his Arrowtown and Otago Country team-mates and the dream was realised.
The side also includes Arrowtown's Aiden Winter and Daniel Dodds, Matakanui's Mitchell Lake, Upper Clutha's Ben Purvis and South Otago duo Lex Kaleca and Matt Faddes.
Sending the team to the Cook Islands was a challenge financially, with Whyte and her organisational team putting in a huge effort, including organising an evening with All Black Leila Masaga earlier in the year.
The tournament will officially open on Thursday with a luncheon for all sides, during which New Zealand sevens great Eric Rush will address the players.
The tournament has extra significance this year, as it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The tournament concludes on Saturday evening with an official closing function.
The team: Dan Iosefo, Aiden Winter, Mitchell Lake, Tane Puki, Kapa Moeke, Drew Carmody, Todd Adolph, Daniel Eyles, Daniel Dodds, Iain Banks, Ben Purvis, Lex Keleca, Mike Evans, Matt Faddes.
