PanAm & Pacific Games Sevens

Action begins in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, when seven teams will compete for the Pacific Games title. The current holders are Fiji, who took gold in Nouméa, New Caledonia in 2011 when women’s sevens was included for the first time. As well as Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tahiti return, while Cook Islands and Guam are replaced by Tonga and Australia.

The Games are normally limited to just the small islands - but this year Australia and New Zealand were invited to take part in four events, including rugby sevens where Australia accepted the invitation in the women's event.

Nicole Beck will lead the Australian team, who will start as clear favourites to win the title. She willlead a relatively young Australian team, including 17 year-oldLaura Waldiewho signed for the professional squad this week. Such is her and her team’s prowess that Beck also carry carried the flag at the Games opening ceremony.

Most of the other teams in the tournament will meet again in November for Oceania Olympic qualifier – this tournament will therefore be invaluable preparation for that event.

The Pacific Games tournament itself will be run over three days, alongside the men’s event at the Sir John Guise Stadium. As in 2011 all seven teams will compete in a single round-robin pool with the top two teams playing off for gold on Friday evening.

Fixtures

Wednesday:12:00     Australia v Fiji12:22     N Caledonia v Papua NG12:44     Samoa v Tahiti15:18     Australia v N Caledonia15:40     Fiji v Samoa16:02     Papua NG v Tonga18:36     Australia v Tahiti18:58     Fiji v Papua NG19:20     N Caledonia v Tonga

Thursday:13:06     Australia v Tonga13:28     Fiji v Tahiti13:50     N Caledonia v Samoa16:24     Australia v Samoa16:46     Fiji v Tonga17:08     Papua NG v Tahiti19:42     Australia v Papua NG20:04     N Caledonia v Tahiti20:26     Samoa v Tonga

Friday:12:00     Fiji v N Caledonia12:22     Papua NG v Samoa12:44     Tahiti v Tonga16:46     5thplace match18:36     Bronze Medal match18:58     Gold Medal match

On Saturday the action returns to Canada for the PanAm Games, in Toronto, where women’s sevens will be making its debut. Six teams will take part, including four teams who have already qualified for the Olympics and two who will be taking part in the World Repecharge in 2016. Unlike the Pacific Games, where Australia are overwhelming favourities, there is much more at stake in Toronto as Canada will be dertermined to put right their failure in their home World Series round in Langford, while the United States will welcome the chance to beat their oldest rivals. Both nations have prioritised this tournament over the Super Series.

Jen Kish leads the Canadians, whose squad is:Britt Benn; Hannah Darling; Bianca Farella; Magali Harvey; Sara Kaljuvee; Jen Kish; Ghislaine Landry; Kayla Moleschi; Karen Paquin; Kelly Russell; Ashley Steacy; and Natasha Watcham.

The United States team is just as strong: 1. Megan Bonny ; 2. Kelly Griffin ; 3. Joanne Fa'avesi ; 4. Alev Kelter ; 5. Richelle Stephens ; 6. Lauren Doyle ; 7. Kristen Thomas ; 8. Hannah Lopez ; 9. Melissa Fowler ; 10. Irene Gardner ; 11. Kate Zackary ; 12. Kathryn Johnson

“Argentina could definitely surprise, and Colombia knocked them off in their qualifier,” US coach Suggitt said. “There are two up-and-comers right there. Brazil’s been on the circuit all year and they’re always tough to play against. They’re physical at the tackle area, physical at the breakdown, and they have a couple speedsters." but realistically the tournament will be won by either Canada or the United States.

As in Port Moresby, all of the teams have been put in a single pool with the top two playing off for Gold.

Fixtures

Saturday

First session (10.00)Canada v ColombiaUnited States v BrazilMexico v ArgentinaUnited States v ColombiaBrazil v ArgentinaCanada v Mexico

Second session (16:00)Argentina v United StatesCanada v BrazilColombia v Mexico

Sunday

First session (10.00)Argentina v CanadaColombia v BrazilMexico v United StatesArgentina v ColombiaBrazil v MexicoCanada v United States

Second session (16:00)Fifth place playoffBronze medal matchGold medal match