The 53rd annual Kiama Sevens tournament took place on Saturday, 22 February, at the stunning Chittick Oval and Kiama Showground - two of the most beautiful rugby fields in the world (not biased).

Perfect weather helped make the event a resounding success, showcasing the skill and talent of rugby teams from across NSW. Kiama Sevens organiser Mark Bryant was pleased with how the day unfolded. 

"We kicked off at 8am, and it was a little overcast at first," he says. "But it turned into a fantastic day, and we’ve had no injuries, which is fantastic. All our sponsors showed up, the crowd was great, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves."

Kiama’s single team participated in the Men’s Country division and got off to a strong start, securing three back-to-back wins.

"We were a little shaky at first," says coach Dante Patrick. "It’s always tough coming into these tournaments, as the games are fast-paced, and the teams change each year. But once we got into the groove, it was smooth sailing."

All smiles as Kiama race away for another try. Source: Brian Scott.

Their three wins secured them a spot in the grand final, where they faced The Lakes Rugby team. In a thrilling, closely contested match, Kiama lost 21-19 - a game that could have gone either way.

Despite the grand final loss, Coach Patrick believes the tournament was a great showcase of Kiama's talent.

"It’s huge for our town," he says. "You wouldn’t expect a small community like Kiama to host such a competitive team and a tournament of this scale. It grows every year, and we hope our professionalism matched the level of the tournament."

Kiama coach Dante Patrick calling some shots. Source: Brian Scott.

The big winners of the day were:

• CAAA Bowl: Shoalhaven
• Women’s 2nd Division: Albury
• Men’s Country Cup: The Lakes
• Women’s Country Cup: Goulburn
• Hahn Plate: Western Sydney Two Blues
• Sebel Harbourside Kiama Vase (Women’s 1st Division): UTS Gordon
• Cleary Brothers Cup (Men’s 1st Division): Eastwood

Winners of the Men's Division 1 competition Eastwood with Mayor Cameron McDonald. Source: Kiama Sevens Facebook.

Winners of the Women's 1st division UTS Gordon. Source/ Kiama Sevens Facebook.

A heartfelt congratulations to all the winners! A big thank you to the community volunteers whose dedication made the event possible. We’re already looking forward to next year!