Darwin Hottest Sevens Explained

Hottest 7s in the World
Pixels:	160px
Formerly:	Territory 7s (1989–2004)
Founded:	1989
Teams:	40+
Venue:	Darwin, Australia
Champion:	Tabadamu Classic Wallaroos
Sponsor:	Heineken

The Darwin Hottest Sevens, known as the Hottest 7s in the World or the Hottest 7s, is a rugby sevens tournament held annually in Darwin, Australia on a weekend in early October. The event is sponsored by Heineken and is hosted by the Northern Territory Rugby Union. The tournament draws club teams and national teams from many countries around the world, including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, England, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Australia.

The competition began in 1989, as the Territory Sevens, with the inaugural event being won by Fijian team, Duavata. The tournament was re-branded as the Hottest 7s in 2005, and has been supported by the Northern Territory Government since 2009. The organisers in 2013 claimed it was the richest rugby sevens tournament in the Southern Hemisphere with a prize pool of $65,000. The tournament was cancelled in 2020,^[1] but returned in 2021.

Format

The tournament attracts around forty to fifty teams each year. As of 2014, there were thirty-two men's teams and eight women's teams.

In the men's competition the top eight teams are seeded and eight pools of four teams each are drawn, with each team playing all others in their pool once. The top two teams from each pool advance to the Cup/Plate bracket, and the bottom two teams from each group enter the Bowl/Shield bracket. There are quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals matches in each bracket to decide the winners of the Croc Cup, Buff Plate, Barra Bowl, and Gecko Shield trophies.

For the women's competition, two pools of four teams each are drawn, with each team playing all others in their pool once to determine the seedings for the finals matches. There are quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final to decide the winner of the Jabiriu Cup.

Winners

The Hottest Sevens tournament trophy winners are listed below (results from 1989 to 2004 are for the Territory Sevens):

Croc Cup competition

2022 – Tabadamu (Fiji)
2021 – Tabadamu (Fiji)
2020 – not contested
2019 – Miwatj Stallions
2018 – Borneo Eagles
2017 – Darwin Stallions (NZ)
2016 – Tabadamu (Fiji)
2015 – Borneo Eagles
2014 – Hong Kong
2013 – Auckland
2012 – Borneo Eagles
2011 – Borneo Eagles
2010 – Borneo Eagles
2009 – Samoa Barbarians
2008 – South Sea Drifters (Fiji)
2007 – South Sea Drifters (Fiji)
2006 – Fiji Barbarians
2005 – Aussie Spirit
2004 – Darwin Dingoes
2003 – Potoroos
2002 – Hong Kong
2001 – NZ Batt 3
2000 – Fiji Services
1999 – Darwin Dingoes
1998 – Potoroos
1997 – Potoroos
1996 – Burnside
1995 – Sydney University
1994 – Duavata
1993 – Hong Kong
1992 – Duavata
1991 – Sydney University
1990 – AIS
1989 – Duavata

Buff Plate competition

2022 – Pristine Warriors
2021 – Strait Balas 7s
2020 – not contested
2019 – Western Sydney Two Blues
2018 – Darwin Stallions (NZ)
- 2016 – Brisbane Fiji
2015 – NT Mosquitos
2014 – Country King Browns
2013 – Papua New Guinea
2012 – NT Mosquitos
2011 – Western Wolfpack
2010 – NT Mosquitos
2009 – Randwick
2008 – NT Mosquitos
2007 – Adelaide Black Falcons
2006 – Aussie Legends
2005 – Potoroos
2004 – Burnside
2003 – Casuarina
2002 – South Darwin
2001 – South Darwin
2000 – University Pirates
1999 – Albatross
1998 – Aussie Signs
1997 – South Darwin
1996 – Palmerston Crocs
1995 – HMAS Albatross
1994 – Bayside
1993 – RSL Dragons
1992 – Singapore Cricket Club
1991 – Singapore Cricket Club
1990 – Crocs
1989 – Phantoms

Barra Bowl competition

2022 – Northern Marlins
2021 – East Arnhem
2020 – not contested
2019 – Casuarina Cougars
2018 – Gumatji Cavaliers
2017 – Narraro (Fiji)
2016 – Burnside (Adelaide)
2015 – Noosa Dolphins
2014 – Southern Lions
2013 – East Arnhem
2012 – Bungendore Mudchooks
2011 – East Arnhem
2010 – Alice Springs
2009 – Darwin Dingoes
2008 – Alice Springs
2007 – Brahmans
2006 – Ironsides (Army)
2005 – Full Damage
2004 – Dragons Green
2003 – Swampdogs
2002 – Singapore Cricket Club
2001 – Poddles
2000 – Poddles
1999 – Lions
1998 – Dragons
1997 – Aussie Signs
1996 – Airport Hotel Cougars
1995 – Pints
1994 – RSL Dragons
1993 – Lions
1992 – Pandata Panthers
1991 – Darwin U21
1990 – Cougars

Gecko Shield competition

2022 – South Darwin
2021 – not contested
2020 – not contested
2019 – Central Crewsaders
2018 – Northern NSW Hogs
2017 – Honkers (Aust)
2016 – East Arnhem
2015 – Central Crusaderz
2014 – University
2013 – South Darwin
2012 – Groote Eylandt
2011 – Palmerston
2010 – Brahmans Boks^[2] ^[3]
2009 – Groote Eylandt
2008 – Groote Eylandt

Player of the tournament

2020 – not contested
2019 – Abele Atunaisa (Legends Tabadamu)^[4]
2018 – Celia Dranes (France Development women)^[5]

Jabiru Women's Cup competition

2021 – Classic Wallaroos/1st Nations Development
2021 – Reds/Queensland Academy of Sport
2020 – not contested
2019 – Miwatj/Festerville Industries Stallions
2018 – France Development
2017 – Australian Women's Development VII
2016 – Tribe 7s
2015 – Tribe 7s (invitational team – Aust.)
2014 – Hong Kong
2013 – Sunnybank
2012 – Aussie Pearls
2011 – Eastsyde 7's
2010 – Queensland
2009 – Zonnators
2008 – Arrongatahi NZ
2007 – Northern Territory Invitations
2004 – University Pirates
2003 – University Pirates
2002 – Hong Kong
2001 – Casuarina
2000 – Pints Dragons
1999 – NTIS
1998 – Pints Dragons
1997 – University Pirates
1996 – Casuarina Cougars
1995 – Palmerston Sweethearts

Jacana Women's Plate competition

2022 – not contested
2021 – not contested
2020 – not contested
2019 – University Pirates
2018 – not contested
2017 – Central Queensland Dingoes
2016 – not contested
2015 – Sydney University

External links

Hottest7s.com Official Website
Hottest 7s in the World on Facebook.com
Hottest 7s in the World on ur7s.com (Ultimate Rugby Sevens)

Notes and References

Web site: Hottest 7s . northernterritory.com . en-us.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150608104146/http://www.territorystories.nt.gov.au/jspui/bitstream/10070/216880/24/ntn24jan10024x.pdf Hottest 7s Results (Field 2)
https://web.archive.org/web/20150330213140/http://kbrahmans.rugbynet.com.au/default.asp?id=175166 Darwin Hottest 7's
16 November 2019 . Hottest 7s 2019, Darwin . Field One, Day Two, Part Two. 6 January 2019 . 10:12:50 . NT Rugby Union.
News: 21 January 2018 . France Development dominate women's Hottest 7s . NT News . Darwin . https://archive.today/20180515205830/http://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/france-development-dominate-womens-hottest-7s/news-story/ab1a8395d373e5a12cfafbb923da7874 . 15 May 2018 .