All 44 spots in the annual Kiama Sevens Tournament have been filled with more than a month remaining before the event returns for its 54th consecutive year.

“We’ve got all 44 spots in the men’s and women’s competitions already covered,” tournament director Mark Bryant said.

“We’ve got a team from Western Australia, three coming up from Victoria, one from the ACT, and the rest from Sydney, which is really good and makes for a strong competition. I’d say it’s probably the strongest women’s competition we’ve seen.”

Not only does 2026 mark the tournament’s 54th year, it also follows one of the most successful seasons Kiama Rugby has enjoyed in recent memory, with first grade winning the premiership and reserve grade finishing runners-up.

“They’re in the Country Cup playing against other country sides, and they’re all pretty strong,” Bryant said.

“Kiama’s given them a shake-up over the last couple of years, so it’s a new season. It depends on who turns up at training and who’s had a big off-season at Christmas. But they’re always competitive and they always have a real go, which is great for the club.”

Kiama in last years Kiama Sevens tournament. Photo: Brian Scott

The Kiama Sevens has long been regarded as one of the strongest rugby sevens tournaments in Australia and New Zealand, particularly at a time when the format is shrinking elsewhere.

Bryant pointed to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, an international competition run by World Rugby, which has recently reduced its number of teams.

“They’ve reduced it from 12 teams down to eight,” he said.

“New Zealand no longer has the same competitions it once did, and a number of others have disappeared altogether. Even though sevens is still an Olympic sport, there’s no real expansion at the moment. At 54 years, we’re still standing strong.”

Because of its reputation, the Kiama Sevens has also become a valuable scouting opportunity for Rugby Australia.

“Ultimately, everyone wants to be an Olympian and this is a genuine pathway,” Bryant said.

“Rugby Australia and the Australian Sevens program, including Tim Walsh and Scott Bowen, will send players into teams coming back from injury or keep an eye on certain players. They use Kiama Sevens as a sighting board.”

The tournament’s media launch will take place on February 20, the week before the event, with Scott Bowen - High Performance Manager for the Australian Sevens program - set to attend.

“He’s a former Wallabies five-eighth, so having him come down will be great,” Bryant said.

“It’ll be good to hear from Scott and see how Rugby Australia continues to be involved with the Kiama Sevens.”

Bryant believes the tournament’s longevity comes down to consistency and trust built with clubs over decades.

“We keep things much the same so clubs know exactly what to expect on the day,” he said.

“We’ll still have Touchdown Helicopters bringing in the trophies, we’ll still have seven finals on the day, and as long as the fields are in tip-top shape, everything’s pointing towards another big weekend.”

The Kiama Sevens will take place on February 28. Organisers are still seeking volunteers for the event.

Anyone interested in being part of one of Kiama’s biggest annual sporting events - and potentially seeing future Olympians in action - can contact Kiama Sevens via their website at kiamarugby.com/contact or directly through Bryant on 0439 640 896.