The Wombats claimed the 2017 title after an unbeaten season and coach Murray McDonald is confident this weekend’s hit out is the perfect launching pad for another successful season.

“It’s a good start to the season, we’re just going to find our feet and see how we go,” McDonald said.

“There are some very good teams we’ll be going up against, it’s definitely going to be a test. We’re playing the Fijian team and defending champions in the first two games. This is our first time in the 10s, so we’ll have to find our feet early on.” 

Saturday’s competition marks the third straight year Camden has hosted a 10s tournament and Camden Rugby Union President Gary Howell said it’s a great way to start the season. 

“It’s a very good way to start off the season, coming off the back of the Brisbane Tens,” Howell said.

“We have sides from Illawarra, Sydney and a couple of invitational sides, it’s a good representation of clubs and will make for an exciting competition.

“With some good prize money available for cup and plate winners, all teams will be trying hard to win. Tens is such a good competition because it gives you more variety in players and positions.”

The competition will be contested by 12 teams, all vying for a share in $5000 prize money. 

Representing the Illawarra region are Avondale, Tech Waratahs, Campbelltown and Camden. Traveling down from Sydney are Drummoyne Dirty Red’s, South West Sydney United, Sydney Nadi, Parramatta Two Blues and Canterbury. 

The final three teams are Cornwallis Crusaders, a specialist sevens and tens club, Mike Merino Barbarians and the Deadwood Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves were founded in 2009 with the aim of raising money for charity through the sport of rugby union. The club has raised over $200,000 for charity since their inception, with prize money donated to charities such as the HeartKids foundation.

The Timberwolves enter the competition as defending champions.

McDonald sees the weekend as the perfect opportunity to provide emerging players with a taste of competitive, opens rugby.

“We’ve got some young kids coming through the ranks,” McDonald said. “We’ll definitely give them a go. We can only select 15 players, which makes it tough, having 15 players for the whole day. We play five games, so if a player suffers an injury, you’re in a bit of trouble.”

The competition kicks off at 8am, with preliminary rounds running until 3.25. The plate final will take place at 6pm, with the cup final following at 6.30.

Matches will be played across two fields at Camden Rugby Park.

For those who can’t get to the ground, Macarthur Sports Radio will be commentating live from the venue throughout the day.