SINGAPORE - The Singapore Sevens makes its much-anticipated return to the National Stadium after 10 years with 16 of the planet's top rugby sevens teams set to do battle on this weekend (April 16 and 17).
The shortened format of sevens promises end-to-end action and high-scoring matches crammed inside bite-sized seven-minute halves.
The Straits Times picks out nine players expected to play a starring role for their countries.
1. Cameron Clark, 23, Australia
Position: Centre
The son of renowned rugby commentator Greg, Clark scored 32 tries last season, finishing tied-fourth on the try scoring list. The Singapore Sevens could the perfect platform for Clark to stake his claim for a place in the Olympics squad, amid competition from Wallabies Henry Speight and Nick Cummins.
2. Sonny Bill Williams, 30, New Zealand
Position: Centre/Winger
One of the game's biggest stars, Williams has won two World Cups with the All Blacks in the 15-a-side union version and is hoping a strong run in the sevens team will cement his spot in the side for the Rio Olympics where he hopes to add another gold medal to his collection. Famed for his playmaking ability to both shrug off tackles and dish out pin-point passes, Williams has also shed his bad-boy image to become one of rugby's most popular players. In a spontaneous act of generosity, he gave away his Rugby World Cup winner's medal to a young fan who had run onto the Twickenham pitch after last year's final.
3. Osea Kolinisau, 30, Fiji
Position: Wing
Kolinisau captained the Fiji sevens team to four leg wins last season en route to their first Sevens World Series championship since 2006. Fresh off scoring his 100th try of the World Sevens Series during last week's Hong Kong leg, he will be a key part of the Fiji team as they target back-to-back wins in Singapore.
4. Perry Baker, 29, USA
Position: Winger
One half of the "Chuckle Brothers" along with the injured Carlin Isles, the speed merchant who used to play American football, is second in tries scored this season (36). He has, however, proven to be more than just a pacey winger with an improved defensive game and physique.
5. Seabelo Senatla, 23, South Africa
Position: Winger
Having topped the try-scoring charts last season with 47 (eight more than the next best), the fleet-footed winger is back to his old tricks and already has 43 tries this season. Formerly part of Super Rugby side the Stormers, he is one of three South Africans to make the Rugby Sevens dream team last year.
6. Dan Norton, 28, England
Position: Winger/fullback
Known as "the Wasp" for how he is always buzzing around in the game, Norton broke the 1,000 points landmark during the recent Hong Kong Sevens. With a knack of scoring crucial tries, he is England's biggest scoring-threat, scoring a season-best 52 tries during the 2012-13 season.
7. Collins Injera, 29, Kenya
Position: Winger
Second on the World Series all-time tries scored list with 222, it is only a matter of time before Injera overtakes Argentina's Santiago Gomez Cora (230). A mainstay for the team since his debut in 2006, he infamously used a permanent marker to sign the lens of a £60,000 (S$114,310.80) broadcast camera after scoring his 200th try early last year.
8. Fernando Luna, 25, Argentina
Position: Fullback
Captain of the Pumas, Luna's power, straight running and offloading skill was a key reason why Argentina reached the final of the South Africa Sevens in December.
9. Phoenix Hunapo-Nofoa, 21, Samoa
Position: Inside centre
The brightest spark in a struggling Samoa team, with Fijian-like sharp footwork and an abundance of speed and strength, he was part of the dream team in the Canada Sevens last month.
