It's been a long time coming but the day has finally arrived.
Our world leading, unique Aon Uni 7s competition is here and personally, I can't wait for the first match to get underway.
This tournament offers so much to so many different people that love the game of Sevens and more broadly, love the game of rugby and want it to thrive in this country.
For the girls, both those that are a part of the national squad and those that are relative rookies, this is a chance to shine.
Then there is the opportunity this provides for coaches across Australia.
I know there is just as much coaching talent as there is playing talent in this country and that excites me.
I have come to Launceston looking to uncover the next crop of stars that can join the Australian Sevens squad in the very near future.
We have an enormous 2017-18 ahead and I know there are girls that will be starring in this tournament that have what it takes to showcase their talent on the world stage.
This tournament provides a platform for those girls.
It will allow Sevens, as a code, to capture the hearts and minds of the best female athletes this country has to offer.
If we are able to draw from that talent pool and show girls what it takes to play for your country at the highest level, I know we can continue to pave the way for the future, both long term and short.
That responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the women in the national squad, who are using this tournament as part of their preseason.
There are some that will play every match and others that will require a bit more time on sidelines but all of them will have the responsibility of guiding their team through the inaugural tournament.
They are role models for a group of girls that can be the crux of Australia's next gold medal winning team and their mentorship will be just as valuable as the minutes these girls get through the next four tournaments.
The inaugural Uni 7s kicks off in Launceston on Friday at 2pm AEST, broadcast LIVE on RUGBY.com.au.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and are not necessarily reflective of the ARU or its affiliated teams or clubs.
