Keep Your Kit On

New Zealand International Sevens organisers are encouraging everyone to hold on to their flags, costumes and country colours from Rugby World Cup and use them in an entry- video for the NZ International Sevens Cheerleading Competition which closes this week.

Cheerleaders will get the experience of a lifetime by being an official team  cheerleader, including free tournament tickets, hitting the streets of Wellington in the Sevens Street Parade, performing on the field at the tournament, meeting the players, being on the big screen, and having a shot at winning $7000. All that is needed is to get together some friends, create a routine/chant that fans in their aisle can copy to cheer on the teams, film it and upload it to Sevens.co.nz You don't need abs of steel or bronzed bodies, just the Sevens attitude.

The inaugural competition was staged in 2011 with 47 entrants and now organisers are hoping that the hype and atmosphere from Rugby World Cup will encourage even more cheerleading teams to enter before the competition closes on Friday 4 November at 5pm.

General Manager, Steve Walters explained: “New Zealand fans have really embraced the Rugby World Cup and we have seen that sevens atmosphere hit stadiums right across the country. Our cheerleading competition is a chance for teams to inspire their aisle and show support for all 16 competing nations.”

“This is a unique way to experience this fantastic event and a great way for those who missed out on tickets to get some of the best seats in the house.”

The 16 competition cheerleader squads will be chosen by a panel of judges. The squads will be selected based on the opinion of the judging panel, with the number of Facebook ‘’likes’’ applicable to a video’s Facebook posting as at 5pm on Friday 4 November 2011 to be taken into account, so the earlier you get your entry in the more chance you have of winning.

For the full competition terms and conditions and to view the video entries see http://www.sevens.co.nz/cheerleaders