Hamilton welcomes fans and teams for HSBC World Sevens tournament at FMG Stadium Waikato

Fans in colourful costumes are all part of the Sevens fun atmosphere. Photo / Tom Rowland

The flags are up, the teams are here, and Hamilton is ready for another dose of HSBC World Sevens rugby fever.

FMG Stadium Waikato will host its second HSBC NZ Sevens tournament this weekend.

This year's tournament features the addition of a Fast Four women's tournament, the first time the Black Ferns Sevens will compete in New Zealand.

The All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens hosted a free public barbecue breakfast on Tuesday in Garden Place, providing an opportunity to meet players and buy tournament tickets.

This evening (Friday) Hamilton launches the tournament with the Kick-Off Carnival in Garden Place from 4.30 to 6.30pm.

There will be entertainment, food, a presentation to the teams and an opportunity for people to add credit to the digital wristbands used pay for food, drinks and merchandise at the tournament.

The Sevens will be a cashless event, with patrons using special wristbands to buy items at the stadium. At Garden Place, Mayor Andrew King will make a brief presentation to team members and TV personality James McOnie will be MC.

"We wanted to mark the start of the Sevens weekend with a free and fun launch event, and give people a taste of what's in store at FMG Stadium Waikato over the two days of the tournament," says the council's general manager of major events and venues, Sean Murray.

"It's important to us to give the teams, officials and supporters a warm welcome to Hamilton." he says.

"This is the hottest ticket of the summer - and we've got a few double passes to the event to give away on Friday night," he says.

During the week, members of the visiting teams have been taking part in a variety of community events and visits, in between training or gym sessions and having a look around Hamilton.

Members of the South African Sevens squad visited the children's ward at Waikato Hospital on Tuesday and on Wednesday team captains visited Tūrangawaewae Marae at Ngāruawāhia. Also during the week a number of the teams joined youngsters at the YMCA Kids Olympics Day, part of the holiday programme held at Hamilton West School.

On Thursday, some Sevens teams were at Southwell School to meet children taking part in the Kelly Sports holiday programme.

Hamilton is the host city for the Sevens through a partnership with Hamilton City Council, NZ Rugby and events company 37 South.

For more on the Hamilton Sevens, visit sevens.co.nz or hamiltonhostcity.co.nz

Free shuttle to stadium
There will be additional traffic management around FMG Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.

From the south end of Hamilton's central business district fans may catch a free shuttle from Hood Street to Tristram Street between 10am and 4pm.

Hamilton's regular central city liquor ban has been extended for the Sevens weekend, covering streets around the stadium.