RUGBY SEVENS
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WITH $1500 on the line Waratahs will have their strongest available side in the SIRU Summer of Sevens tournament at Connolly Rugby Complex on Saturday.
In the inaugural year of the competition Waratahs will take two teams, but unlike Leeton will stack one team hoping to come away with the winner takes all prize.
After training well this pre-season tomorrow's opportunity is a great way to focus more on match play according to coach Hugh Palmer.
"Sevens is really fast and very entertaining but at the same time we want to get as many guys running around as possible," Palmer said.
"They are all really keen we've had a long pre-season so far and everyone is keen to get stuck in and have a run about."
Having two teams entered is just one indication of how important the Waratahs are taking the event.
Jock Munro, Dan Selmes, Morgan Jones, Dylan Gatt, Sam Hobbs and new recruit Tim Devitt are among those to play in the strongest side, with Palmer keen to support for rugby sevens in the city.
"I think it's fantastic and a really good concept and its surprising something hasn't been done earlier," Palmer said.
"I think in Australia, particularly rural Australia we don't really embrace the sevens as much as we should and give it the respect that it should be given.
"It's an Olympic sport now and I think we should be getting stuck behind it."
The tournament will also provide an initial indication of just how last year's grand finalists are travelling after a strong pre-season.
"I'm really happy with how things have been going with consistent numbers of training," Palmer said.
"We haven't really lost too many players and picked a few up so we are looking alright at the moment."
The rumours that a number of rival players are set to join the club have continued, but as yet Palmer hasn't seen any of them turn up to training.