The event is exclusively for George rugby clubs and takes place this Saturday, 29 November. The 10 most promising players identified during this tournament, will be invited to attend the SARU Sevens Academy in Stellenbosch.
"It is a great honour and privilege to be part of this partnership," said Hennie Baartman, president of the SWD Rugby Union. He congratulated George Mayor Charles Standers with the initiative, and said it is the first for George, SWD and for South Africa.
"Many clubs phoned me to be part of this great opportunity, but the event is exclusively for George rugby clubs and we ask the clubs and their supporters to support this event," he said.
The event will be extended to the rest of the region in the future. The community is asked for their support, said Debra Sauer, George Municipality assistant media liaison officer.
"They even kept the gate money at a giveaway of R10, to allow more people to attend."
The 16 teams from the George Municipal Area will compete for the Mayoral Cup trophy. They will compete in four groups formatted on the existing IRB Sevens circuit principles. Prize money for the event is R10 000 for the winner, R5 000 for the runner-up and R2 500 for third place.
The local teams, which are all affiliated to the SWD Rugby Union, committed themselves to the tournament. Braam Coetzee, the organising committee's SWD representative, read out the rules and regulations to all the team representatives present at the draw evening.
"All the teams were also provided with the technical rules and regulations of the Sevens game as such. Rules on and off the field were explained," said Sauer.
Dignitaries at the draw to match businesses with teams for sponsorship in the Mayoral Cup Sevens Tournament. Front, from left are: Johan de Klerk (Power Measurement matched with Progress RFC), Hennie Baartman (president of the SWD Rugby Union), Councillor Iona Kritzinger and Kidron Kaboni (sport manager at the George Municipality). Back: Naz Cupido, (coordinator of the Mayoral Cup Sevens Tournament: George Municipality), Werner Rall (SWD Rugby Marketing/Terra Firma), Ben Brinkhuis (vice-president: SWD Rugby Union), Kobie Carelse (executive member: SWD Rugby Union), Braam Coetzee (SWD representative on the Organising Committee), Councillor Rassie de Villiers (portfolio councillor for sport) and Johan van der Westhuizen (Assupol matched with Black Lions RFC).
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