Over $14,000 in cash prizes were awarded at the conclusion of the 2014 Santa Claus 7 Aside Cup Tournament at the Teufaiva Stadium on 26 December.

The three-days tournament was held on Tuesday and Wednesday last week before concluding on Friday 26 December.

Tala'ofa Saafi, one of the organizers of the tournament, said that 38 teams, including eight girls teams took part, with two age groups, 20 years and under, and a senior group.

The winner of senior men was the Toloa Old Boys, with a top cash prize of $3,000 and a cup trophy, both donated by Office Equipment.

The under 20 boys was won by Havelu with a cash prize of $1000 and a cup trophy both donated by Office Equipment.

The senior women division was won by Havelu with a cash prize of $1000, donated by Office Equipment, and a cup trophy donated by the Leiola Duty Free.

Second and  third places runner ups in the competition, and outstanding players in  the tournament also received prizes from sponsors.

The number of teams competing has dropped from 54 at the last tournament. Tala'ofa said that it was because their tournament clashed with the netball season but it was important for them to host this year's tournament now, because Tonga would be participating in two international tournaments next year, a Marist seven-a-side tournament in Fiji, and the IRB Hong Kong tournament.

Tala'ofa said they wanted to start streamlining 7's players into Tonga's team, which at the moment is just selected from 15-a-side players.

The tournament is organised by Tala'ofa Saafi and Benhur Kivalu, the two Tonga Rugby Union seven-a-side rugby development officers.

Other donors included Puloka Construction $3000, Semisi Sika with Five Star, $1000 as well as Si'I-Kae-Ola, Jetsave, Waterfront, US Mini Mart and Tonga Forest Products.