A women’s grade has been introduced this year, while Taieri looks to go for a third title in a row in the open men’s grade.
This will be the sixth year for the tournament and organiser Shane Waldron said it had come a long way since it started.
The tournament was set up by Waldron and friends after a Masters Games 10s competition was canned and they decided to set up their own tournament.
It had gone from strength to strength, every tournament raising funds for charity.
This year’s charity is the Suicide Prevention Trust. Waldron hoped with the fundraising this year the amount of money raised for charity would reach $100,000 since the tournament started.
Three women’s sides would be turning out. There had been a fourth, but it was forced to pull out.
With the women playing, there was a cap of 10 teams in the open men’s grade.
Taieri looms as a side to beat in the men’s grade, although other teams also look strong.
A Broncos team from Alhambra-Union is one to watch, the club having sent a side to the Middlesex Cup sevens tournament in Wellington last weekend.
A team made up of former Otago Boys’ High School pupils has also entered and is bound to make an impact.
The Bookworms are a side made up mainly of University players and will offer a stern challenge.
Hometown side Green Island is out to make an impact and has most of its premier side fronting up. The side includes former Otago Boys’ High School winger Michael Manson.
Southern will be captained by Mika Mafi and will have plenty of depth.
Old Boys, from North Otago, will be turning out, as will West Taieri, which has shifted to the southern region competition this year.
West Taieri will also have a side in the over-35 years grade, which will also feature the defending champion Spartans team.
This team includes former All Blacks such as Paul Miller, Corey Flynn and Kees Meeuws.
The over-35s grade has four teams and does have the benefit of rolling substitutions, as do all grades.
There will be a function on Saturday night at the Green Island clubrooms at Miller Park, with a fundraising auction and a band playing. A few tickets are still left.
The first game begins at 8.30am on Saturday. An earlier kick-off was brought in so the finals will be played earlier, the first final starting mid-afternoon.
