The fight has begun to keep the Wellington Sevens Rugby Tournament, won by Fiji last weekend, in Wellington.
Auckland and Dunedin have bid to host the tournament next year.
Grant Robertson, MP for Wellington Central, has started a campaign to keep the New Zealand leg of the Rugby Sevens in his home town.
With hosting rights coming up for tender, Auckland and Dunedin have expressed interest in picking up the tournament, but Mr Robertson wants the event kept in the capital where he believes it has been a major success on a level neither Auckland nor Dunedin can match.
Mr Robertson is calling on sevens fans to sign his petition to show rugby authorities the unique event should stay put, NewstalkZB reported.
There are also plans to extend the tournament over three days to include a women’s competition. Sevens rugby will be included in the Olympics from 2016.
Fiji made a brilliant start to the IRB Sevens season after a classic Pacific island final in Wellington on Saturday.
Fiji emerged deserved champions by beating Samoa 19-14 in a tense final. It closed them to within four points of leaders New Zealand on the IRB standings after three legs of the eight-stop series.
There is no denying Fiji were the best team over the two days and deserved to win their third Wellington title. They were convincing 28-19 semifinal winners over England and avenged their 2007 final loss to Samoa.
It was also fitting their final score of the night went to winger Osea Kolinisau, a firm bet as player of the tournament, to follow tries either side of halftime to Jiuta Lutumailaga and captain Emosi Vucago.
However, it nearly went pear-shaped courtesy of Samoa's premium flyer, Mikaele Pesamino, who scorched over for a double to keep his country in the hunt.
Samoa dumped New Zealand 24-14 in the semis, the tournament hosts unable to continue on from their series-opening wins in Dubai and South Africa two months ago.
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