SIGATOKA River Safari has been confirmed as the major sponsor for next week's inaugural Great Eight Rugby Sevens tournament to be held at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.
The two-day tournament will be the qualification tournament for local clubs that want to win a spot in the 2012 Fiji's Coral Coast Sevens to be held in November.
Announcing the sponsorship Jay Whyte, managing director of Sigatoka River said they very pleased to sponsor the first even Great Eight Rugby Sevens tournament.
Whyte said the tournament would now be known as the Sigatoka River Safari Great Eight tournament.
The tournament next Friday and Saturday will see the top 24 local clubs battle it out as they attempt to win their way to the Coral Coast Sevens.
From the 24 teams that will participate only the top eight will secure a berth to play at this year's 3rd annual Fiji's Coral Coast Sevens.
Some of the top teams confirmed to play at the Sigatoka River Safari Great Eight tournament include Police, Red Rock, Army, Samurai Barracuda, Navy and Ratu Filise.
Whyte said because of the huge interest and support for local rugby they had decided to support the tournament.
"We share the people's passion for the game of rugby and in particular the 7's game which is really going to go through a remarkable period of growth in the next four years, in the lead up to the 2016 Rio Olympics."
Whyte said there would be no entry fee for the two-day tournament.
"The purpose of the tournament is that ultimately we want to see it develop and grow as a true tournament in its own right, allowing the best teams of Fiji the opportunity to win their way through to arguably Fiji's best sevens tournament, the Coral Coast Sevens," Whyte said.