Please find below a snapshot on some of the top seeded men's and women's teams competing at the 2012 Heineken Hottest 7s in the World.
MENS
The two-time defending champions have dominated recent competition, and will aim to become the first team ever to win three consecutive Hottest 7s tournaments. The Eagles team, based out of Borneo, traditionally features a truly International playing list, including a number of players with National team experience from New Zealand and Samoa. The Eagles will enter the 2012 tournament as the number 1 seeded team, and are favored to again win the major
prize.
Formerly known as Davetalevu, Deveta are the most successful team in the history of Hottest 7’s. The Fijian-based team won the 2011 Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) International Rugby Sevens, beating the Borneo Eagles 29-19 in the Final. This team will also be carrying several star Fijian national players part of the IRB series, and has defeated the Borneo Eagles on a number of occasions, notably at their home tournament in Borneo in 2010. Daveta will start the 2012 tournament as the number 2 seed.
The young Brumbies team will feature several players who are on the fringe of the Australian 7’s squad, and others who are pressing for selection to the Brumbies Super Rugby squad. While extremely talented, the team will field some players with limited experience in the modified 7s format.
The Australian team is in a rebuilding phase and will send a young team to Darwin. The Thunderbolts have struggled in recent Hottest 7s tournaments despite high expectations, and will be eager to impress National Coach Michael O’Connor ahead of the upcoming leg of the IRB 7s circuit.
The Eastsyde girls are previous winners and perennial contenders for the Hottest 7s Jabiru Division. Comprising of numerous Queensland Women’s team members, Eastsyde were beaten finalists in the 2011 Hyperion 7s tournament, losing 20-0 to the powerful Aussie Pearls,
The Australian Army team will include a very experienced collection of girls from around the country, with considerable 7s experience. The Australian Army teams are renown for their fitness and physicality of play, and will be highly seeded for the 2012 Hottest 7s.
The Australian National team are starting to build successful combinations, winning the recent 2011 Hyperion 7s and finishing third at the IRB Dubai 7s. The Pearls will start the 2012 Hottest 7s as the Top seeded team, and are heavily favoured to win the Jabiru division despite a number of player changes for 2012. The pearls are expected to field a number of touch football players recently converted to 7s rugby.