RugbyWA regional sevens tournament sets up in Margaret River at Gloucester Park this weekend

A major West Australian rugby event is coming to Margaret River this weekend as part of a pitch to make an interstate and possible international sporting fixture an annual local event. RugbyWA’s inaugural South West Summer 7s tournament takes over Gloucester Park on Saturday November 30, with a bevy of teams including local competitors vying for honours. The precinct’s Lower Western Oval will host the carnival, which starts at 10.30am and features an array of food and beverage providers to keep punters happy, along with a DJ until the final match of the day, scheduled for about 7pm. There will be three divisions featuring open men’s, open women’s and social men’s sides, with players wearing orange ribbons and face paint in recognition of the 16 Days in WA campaign against family domestic violence. RugbyWA’s tournament manager Jason Marrable told the Times competitors were coming from across the State — including affiliate clubs from Rockingham, Nedlands, the University of WA, and Curtin University — with aspirations tied into rugby sevens competitions elsewhere in WA. From the South West, Margaret River Gropers will compete alongside the Dunsborough-Busselton Dungbeetles and Bunbury Barbarians. “We are already looking to lock in the event again for 2025, and have interest from interstate and international teams,” Marrable said. “Bringing these community sevens events to regional WA is an important part of our program, not only to showcase places like the beautiful South West, but to provide regional players an opportunity to participate in sevens rugby in their backyard. “As hosts this year, the Margaret River Gropers are entering a team. The seniors haven’t had the opportunity to play meaningful rugby for some time. “In addition, players from Busselton are attending, there are teams from Bunbury, as well as a number of Pacific Island teams who are made up of Pasifika people from the South West region.” The tournament winners will take to the field at the HSBC World Sevens series under lights on January 24. The carnival will also feature two exhibition matches at 1pm and 3pm involving the Southern Lions All-Abilities rugby teams made up of members with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. Marrable said support for the 16 Days in WA campaign for 2024 was an important feature of this weekend’s event, with the campaign an opportunity to promote the elimination of violence towards women to the rugby community.