Bush Pigs, Tuskers, Red Devils target Wagga in Rugby 7’s

Rugby Super Sevens players Frank, Finn, Toby, Hudson, Max, Jude, and Toby having a ball in Wagga. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.

Wagga’s local economy got a Super Sevens boost after an estimated 1500 players, officials and spectators from Canberra and Southern Inland NSW flocked to the City of Good Sports for a two-day Summer Rugby Super Sevens tournament at Connolly Park.

Teams proudly set up their pop-up marquees with such names as the Jindabyne Bush Pigs, The Temora Tuskers and Tuskerettes, The Young Yabbies, Molong Magpies and the Harden Red Devils to play seven-a-side, seven-minute halves, with up to five substitutes on the bench.

Crows President George Last said the two-day tournament, held at the Wagga Crows’ home ground of Connolly Park, drew its biggest ever number of players, officials and supporters since the event began in the region six years ago.

“For the Super Sevens series this would be the biggest event, yes,” Mr Last said.

“It’s about getting boys and girls aged from Under 13’s up to Under 17’s, playing Rugby Sevens.”

While many might think Rugby Sevens’ fast-paced, high-scoring version of rugby union is relatively new, it was invented in Scotland in 1883 by Scottish butcher and club captain Ned Haig, who created it as a fundraiser for his local Melrose Rugby Football Club.

Players have the same full-sized pitch and basic rules as the traditional 15-a-side game, but the short time frame and open space allow them to flex their skills to get the ball over the line.

The sport expanded globally, catalysed by the now-famous Hong Kong Sevens in the 1970s, before making its debut as an official Olympic Sport at the 2016 Rio Games.

SIRU’s Competitions and Rugby Services Manager Cory Larsen said the two-day 2026 Wagga tournament debuted with evening games under lights.

“We thought of some ideas to revamp the competition and provide something different, and it seems to be working,” Mr Larsen said.

“Last year we got 30-odd teams playing and this year we have 42 teams so it’s definitely growing,” he said.

“It flows fast. It’s usually played in the summer months but its fast-paced and you definitely get to see some players who’ve got some pretty unreal skills to, I guess, express themselves, and get a bit more opportunity to do things they probably wouldn’t be while playing in the 15-a-side competition.”

Wagga Crows President George Last with Southern Inland Rugby Union (SIRU) Competitions and Rugby Services Manager Cory Larsen. Photo: Jenny Warren.

Adding to the popularity is the timing of the Rugby Sevens tournament as it is held after the traditional winter 15-a-side competition.

The games are fast-paced with seven-minute halves, and the atmosphere is charged with feel-good music played over the loudspeakers, and a quality canteen run by club volunteers.

This year boxes of fresh fruit were gifted by Wagga Fruit Supply.

“It’s quite exciting obviously and something a bit different playing some Sevens under lights, and Connolly Park is an awesome facility,” Mr Larsen said.

“We have and good mix of boys’, and girls’ teams, and we are also getting a lot of players who play other codes to have a run around,” he said.