As teams took to the field on Saturday morning, the heavens had already opened up.
The irony wasn’t lost on the Braidwood community impacted by the bushfires, nor those who had travelled from areas as far afield as Sydney’s northern beaches to take part in the day.
The Braidwood Bushfire 7s, with over 40 teams competing, filled the void created by the cancelled race meeting in Braidwood.
The Brumbies came in numbers after playing the Rebels the night before, spending plenty in the town while they were there.
Sydney’s West Harbour won the men’s final, defeating Queanbeyan 12-5, while Jindabyne won the women’s, accounting for the West’s Lionesses 17-7.
But in the end it was more than a rugby tournament featuring former Wallabies Ben Alexander and Peter Kimlin.
Nick Pengelly and his organising committee harnessed the spirit of rugby for the benefit of the Braidwood community.