Rugby: Dunedin aims to score sevens

Dunedin is trying to poach the Wellington sevens rugby tournament.

The annual NZI Sevens - which draws 16 teams, 50,000 visitors and millions of dollars of spending - is on a list of events to be targeted by Dunedin Venues Management for the city's new Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Wellington's contract to host the event expires in 2012.

Asked if he was planning a bid, DVML chief executive David Davies said: "You can be reassured we will be." The bid would be built around a week of activities either side of the two-day rugby festival.

A separate bid was planned for the Pub Charity NZ Rugby Sevens tournament in Queenstown, he said.

NZI Sevens general manager Steve Walters, of the Wellington Rugby Football Union, believed Dunedin's chances of stealing the event were slim.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES