Getting sensational at the Sevens (+pics)

BY REBECCA PALMER

Last updated 00:42 07/02/2009

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KENT BLECHYNDEN/Dominion Post

LOOKING FOR PORT: Fans take in the action at the Sevens in Wellington.

ANDREW GORRIE/Dominion Post

MADE OF PLASTIC: Fans arrive at the Sevens in Wellington.

CRAIG SIMCOX/Dominion Post

YOU HAVE TO WONDER: Hamilton fans take in the Sevens in Wellington.

ANDREW GORRIE/Dominion Post

GOLDEN GIRL: Hayley Goodman enjoys the Sevens in Wellington.

KENT BELCHYNDEN/Dominon Post

ROUGH DAY: A reveller takes in the sights and sounds at the Sevens in Wellington.

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The costumes were jawdropping and so was the rugby.

Some fans spent weeks crafting their costumes, some ordered them from faraway countries. Others simply wrapped themselves in sheets or garbage bags.

As in previous years, Wellington's 10th international rugby sevens proved the perfect occasion to dig out the speedos, Afro wigs, gumboots, lei, kilts, Mexican hats and stilettos particularly if you were male.

Jaws dropped further when two NZI Sevens favourites lost their opening matches. Wales creamed New Zealand 28-17, after Tomasi Cama was sent off for punching Rhodri McAtee, and Fiji was beaten 15-10 by the USA.

Fans are expected to splash out more than $15 million in Wellington over the weekend. Many had splurged on costumes before they even reached the capital.

Twenty "Flash Gordons" from Hamilton each spent $60 buying their tight-fitting costumes from Japan.

Fifty-six pink fairies from various North Island locations had ordered their costumes tutus, headbands, wands and sunglasses from China.

In contrast, 18-year-old Holden Stockman's baby costume was a last-minute brainwave. He whipped the sheet off his bed and transformed it into a giant nappy.

"I have to buy a new one now."

Wellington's Matt Fage, Steve Rider and Charlie Munro again watched their budget, wearing hollowed watermelons on their heads.

Originally a group of 20, their former melon-head mates from Auckland had been unable to get tickets, Mr Fage said.

Mr Rider joked that the price of their costume had risen dramatically over the years. "And finding a watermelon big enough to fit our heads has got harder and harder."

Watermelons were not the only things that were pricier. Many spectators were disgruntled by the public holiday surcharges at the stadium, which lifted the cost of a bottle of beer from $5.50 to $6.30.

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While it did not stop them queuing for drinks, some said they had drunk at city bars for longer before turning up at the stadium.

"Every bar in town this morning had no surcharge," Aucklander Paul Rennie said. "They [Westpac Stadium] have a captive audience so they are fleecing us."

Sarah Prince, manager of the Stadium Bar opposite the railway station, said the bar had chosen not to impose a surcharge. "The increased turnover should compensate for public holiday wage costs."

Stadium management had said they were forced to pass on labour costs incurred by the first day of the sevens falling on Waitangi Day.

Meanwhile, John Smithers' penis-shaped costume attracted attention on the way to the stadium, but was less popular with security staff, who ordered its removal

"Caesar's lost legion" managed to get their imitation swords through after a security guard held one in the air and bent it in front of a camera being watched by head office. He listened for the verdict through his ear-piece, referee-style, before declaring: "You're clear."

Red Badge security ground manager Sean Hurndell said staff had confiscated relatively few items. "Most people are pretty well-educated in terms of what they can and can't bring in."

By 8.30pm 58 people had been evicted and 11 arrested. Offences included obstruction, urinating in a public place and fighting.

- © Fairfax NZ News