GREENOCK Wanderers have their eyes on the prize this weekend as the club gets ready for the revival of their popular 7s tournament after a seven-year wait.
The historic competition is returning to Fort Matilda for the first time since 2017 on Saturday, with teams travelling from across the central belt to take part.
The tournament, which was first run at the club in 1948, has established itself as a firm favourite in the Scottish 7s circuit and will come at the close of the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
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Greenock Wanderers have won the tournament on six occasions, including back-to-back wins in 2013 and 2014.
And the current squad are hoping they can add a seventh victory to the tally this weekend.
They have enlisted the help of club member Ross Darroch, who plays in Russia for the city of Taganrog’s sevens side.
Ross, who has been coaching the sevens team alongside Wanderers' player Louie Hoodless, told the Telegraph that the club was buzzing for the return of the tournament.
He said: “We’re really looking forward to it.
“It’ll be packed, hopefully it’s the busiest the club has been in a long time.
“It’s going to be something a bit different, especially since we haven’t done it since before Covid.
“After the season is done boys usually start coming down for an extra bit of fitness, so this is a good way of keeping the place busy after the season is over.
“The boys are playing well so I’m optimistic.
“There are a good few teams coming down and I know there are some supporters buses coming too, so hopefully that means we’ll have a few hundred at the club.”
Rugby sevens is a variant of rugby union in which teams compete over two seven-minute halves and it is generally seen as a more frantic, free-scoring version of the 15-player version of the sport.
Sevens is an Olympic discipline and will be one of the sports featured at this year’s Paris Olympics.
When club members take to the field on Saturday they will sport a colourful kit made specially for sevens tournaments.
But Greenock Wanderers will not just be competing in their home tournament this year.
Their men’s and women’s teams will also be going on the road to play for silverware at other club’s competitions.
Ross is hopeful the club will put in a strong showing over the summer.
He added: “We’re aiming to bring back about two or three trophies.
“I think sevens is a better game though, it’s shorter and faster.
“People will really enjoy themselves if they come along on Saturday.
“It’ll be open to everyone, it’s going to be a good day out.
“With a barbecue, a few beers, some nice weather and the tournament, it’ll be perfect.”
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