State's best descend on south coast for Kiama Sevens

It quickly became clear the skillful back from Queanbeyan would become a superstar of the sport. 

A glittering career of 101 Wallabies appearances, 64 tries and 315 points across a Test career spanning 14 years soon followed. By the time Campese’s career had ended, he was, and still is, regarded as one of Australia’s greatest ever Wallabies.

If a player even half as good emerges from Saturday’s Kiama Sevens tournament, Australian rugby fans will be leaping for joy. 

”I first came down here in 1979 for my club Quenbayen Whites, so it was a long time ago,” Campese said. 

“I think it’s a great opportunity for young guys to come out and show how good they are, an opportunity to be seen and hopefully move on to the next level.”

For those who are identified as future stars of the sport, the opportunities to play sevens are greater than they have ever been.

“Sevens is very different from 15s now. You can make a career of sevens, there’s a lot of emphasis on the game now. It’s an Olympic sport so anyone who wants to play rugby can go to the Olympic Games. League and Aussie rules, you can’t go, there’s a great opportunity for rugby to capitalise on.”

Saturday’s tournament marks the 45th edition of the Kiama Sevens, with 40 teams from across the state fighting it out in four divisions for a share in $32,000.

Kiama will field a team in the Country division, facing off against teams from  regions including Albury, Orange and Shoalhaven. Wollongong’s Tech Waratahs will also feature, competing in the Bowl competition against the likes of Petersham and Cooks Hill.

The Premier division will feature 16 teams from Sydney, ACT and regional NSW, including Campese’s former club Randwick, Easts ACT, Gungahlin and Temora. 

Play will commence at 8.30am across two fields at Kiama Showground, with the pool stages running through to 4 o’clock. The elimination games start at 4.15 with the Premier division semi-finals, before the first of the finals at 4.35. The Premier final will take place at 6pm, with the winner taking home $11,000.

Kiama Sevens ambassador Lewis Holland stands as proof of where the game of sevens can take rugby players. Now the Australian sevens captain, Holland has had the opportunity to travel around the world on the global sevens circuit and represented his country at the Rio Olympics.

Holland, however, sees the value sevens can provide all rugby players, not just those who reach the top level.

“It allows everyone to have a go at rugby on a full field,” Holland said. “With seven players, you get to tackle, pass and run. 

“The contact element’s still there and they’re still learning the basic developments of rugby, so it’s good as a progression from the younger ages up through to older ages. But also for the older guys to enhance their passing, breakdown technique, their one-on-one tackling.”