Update: 6:53PM LELEAN Memorial School is returning to the Uprising Youth 7s in Sigatoka next year to prove their 2016 success is not a one-off.

The boys from Davuilevu return to Lawaqa Park as defending champs after they narrowly won over Tuva Youth 17-14 at the tournament?s inaugural final last year.

Founding chairman Jay Whyte said they were excited to see the finest youth teams in Fiji heading to the Uprising Youth 7s to be plated as part of the Mana Whey Fiji Coral Coast Sevens in January.

He said the Uprising Youth 7s would boast a prize money of $7500, and “provides our young players the best platform to display their skills”.

“With the next Olympic Games being in Tokyo 2020 we know how pivotal the identification of the next generation of sevens stars is,” Whyte said in a statement issued earlier tonight.

“Our goal is that the Uprising Youth 7s champion will automatically qualify to compete at our partner tournaments in Australia – the UON Central Coast Sevens – and the Samoan Independence 7s.”

Joining the Lelean side in the 16-team competition are renowned teams like Marist Brothers High School, Ratu Kadavulevu School and Cuvu College.

The Uprising Youth 7s will be held at Lawaqa Park on January 18-19 next year.

The confirmed teams at the tournament are:

– Lelean Memorial School

– Marist Brothers High School

– Ratu Kadavulevu School

– Cuvu College

– Navosa Central College

– Ratu Filise

– McDonald’s Saunaka

– Ra High School

– Uprising Youth

– Vio Panthers

– Davuilevu Knights

– Coastline Roos

– Malomalo

– Tuva Youth

– King 7s Select

– Natabua