With $20,000 on the line Sevens teams of all shapes and sizes, but more importantly of various ethnicities are being encouraged to take part in the inaugural Messam Indigenous Sevens (Mi7's) competition.

A brainchild of Chiefs' centurion, All Black and sevens double commonwealth gold medalist Liam Messam the tournament as the name suggests, focusses on ethnicity and the aim is for each team to be made up of one nationality.

Chiefs and All Black Liam Messam is looking to raise the profile of Sevens with the inaugural Messam Indigenous Sevens.

'We wanted to have a unique tournament and people to be proud of who they are and where they come from. They can enter a team of Fijians, Samoans, Tongans, Welsh, Pakeha or whatever indigenous background they may come from.

'We believe this will make it a really fun, entertaining and multi-cultural event.”

The competition to be held at Memorial Park, Hautapu in Cambridge on 21 February will feature four divisions – Open Mens, Open Women's, U20 Mens and U20's Women grades.

Each category will be limited to eight teams and the total prize money spread between the four divisions.

Messam himself has an illustrious background in the sport where at just 20-years-old he captained the New Zealand Sevens team to its fifth IRB Sevens World Series title before leading the team to the 2005 final.

In 2004 he was also named New Zealand Sevens Player of the Year.

He has played in the New Zealand Sevens side that won gold at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwelath Games.

Messam thanks the sponsors who have jumped on board including major sponsors Gallagher and Brain Perry, Barrett homes, Lowe Schollum & Jones, BSc Body Science and Adidas to make the event happen.

The Mai FM crew will be and there will be other entertainment and food outlets. Spectators are welcome to bring picnics.

Kick-off is at 10am and the public are encouraged to come and watch what is guaranteed to be a very colourful day.

Entry costs $380.00 per team and entry forms are available by emailing or phoning Reuben Samuel on reubens@mooloo.co.nz or 021 2285388 or by messaging the Messam Indigenous Facebook page at www.facebook.com/messam7s. For event information check the official Facebook page.