Editing Australian Super 7s (section)

== History ==

=== 1996 Super Sevens Series ===

An early Super Sevens Series was announced by Tim McCarthy of Paintball Australia in 1996. McCarthy proposed a seven-player, bring-your-own-paint competition as a more affordable alternative to contemporary ten-player tournaments.[3]

The format was intended to make it easier for teams to recruit travelling squads, reduce the cost of tournament paint and encourage competition outside Sydney. The series used professional and amateur rankings and assigned experienced teams to referee its events.[3]

Two rounds were announced for 1996:

{| class="wikitable"
! Round
! Tournament
! Date
! Location
|-
| 1
| [[South Pacific Championships|South Pacific Championships]]
| 5–7 October 1996
| Mudgeeraba, Queensland
|-
| 2
| Rebel Tour
| 30 November–1 December 1996
| Skirmish Adventures, Helensburgh, New South Wales
|}

A proposed four-round 1997 calendar included events at Mount White in New South Wales, a South Australian venue, the Gold Coast in Queensland and Helensburgh in New South Wales.[3] The surviving announcement records the intended calendar rather than confirming that all four rounds took place.

=== Launch of the modern series ===

The present Australian Super 7s championship was launched in 2006 as a four-round national tournament series.[4] Contemporary coverage described the 2006 season as the first Australian Super 7s Series, indicating that it was presented as a new competition despite the earlier use of the Super Sevens name.[4]

The inaugural championship used three divisions:

* '''Professional'''
* '''Semi-professional'''
* '''Division 1'''

The series travelled between states and concluded with a final round hosted by Action Paintball Games. The championship offered a professional series prize of A$10,000, seven gold championship rings and paint, in addition to prizes awarded at individual rounds.[4]

=== 2006 season ===

The principal professional contest during the inaugural season developed between [[Sydney SWAT]] and New Zealand team [[Menace]]. SWAT won the opening round, with Menace finishing second. Menace then won Round 2, an achievement described by ''Australian Paintball Magazine'' as the first victory by a New Zealand team at a major Australian tournament.[4]

SWAT defeated Menace in the Queensland round, leaving the two teams tied on series points before the final event. The series championship was consequently decided by whichever team placed higher in Round 4.[4]

The professional preliminary standings at the final round were:

{| class="wikitable"
! Position
! Team
! Points
|-
| 1
| [[Sydney SWAT]]
| 1,089
|-
| 2
| Apocalypse
| 1,006
|-
| 3
| [[Menace]]
| 977
|-
| 4
| Shock
| 921
|-
| 5
| Furions
| 654
|-
| 6
| Mongrel Mob
| 652
|}

SWAT defeated Shock in its semi-final, while Menace defeated Apocalypse. The best-of-three professional final was tied after its first two games. SWAT won the deciding game to take both the round and the inaugural series championship.[4]

The final Round 4 placings were:

{| class="wikitable"
! Division
! First
! Second
! Third
|-
| Professional
| [[Sydney SWAT]]
| [[Menace]]
| Apocalypse
|-
| Semi-professional
| Sydney X-Fighters
| Jetts
| Bitchin
|-
| Division 1
| Adrenaline Freaks
| Shenanigans
| Uprising
|}

Sydney SWAT became the 2006 professional series champion. Backlash won the semi-professional series.[4]

=== State of Origin competition ===

The final 2006 tournament weekend also incorporated a ten-player State of Origin event. Teams representing New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory competed, while Menace undertook refereeing duties.[4]

New South Wales won the event, followed by Queensland and Western Australia. The New South Wales roster included several Sydney SWAT players, while Australian Capital Territory and Queensland selected players from their own tournament teams.[4]

=== International players and training ===

The 2006 final round included visiting international players and instructors. Danny Tiljak of Avalanche and Adam Connolly of Edmonton Impact joined Sydney SWAT, while Thomas Taylor of XSV coached the team. Junior Brown of XSV played with Apocalypse, and Nicky Truter joined the Western Australian team Furions.[4]

A tournament clinic hosted by Action Paintball Games covered breakouts, running and shooting, snap shooting and communication. Its instructors included Tiljak, Taylor and Brown. Planet Eclipse also conducted a technical course for owners of its Ego marker.[4]

Later seasons continued to attract international participation. New Zealand teams documented in the series include Menace, the Wellington Rebels and the Manawatu Titans. Singaporean teams have also appeared in the official rankings.[2]

=== 2007 expansion ===

Following the inaugural season, organisers announced a four-round 2007 championship spanning New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland. Paintball Pete's Reffs Inc was appointed to handle refereeing for the series.[4]

The announced schedule included:

{| class="wikitable"
! Round
! Date
! Venue
|-
| 1
| 17–18 February 2007
| Action Paintball Games, Rouse Hill, New South Wales
|-
| 2
| 19–20 May 2007
| Action Paintball Games, Western Australia
|-
| 3
| 4–5 August 2007
| National Paintball Fields, Blacksoil, Queensland
|-
| 4
| 16–18 November 2007
| Action Paintball Games, Canoelands, New South Wales
|}

The professional championship again offered A$10,000 and seven gold rings. Advertised individual-round prizes included A$6,000 for the professional winner and A$3,000 for the semi-professional winner.[5]

Menace won the 2007 professional series standings with 184 points, two points ahead of Sydney SWAT. Platinum led the semi-professional standings and The Business led the amateur division.[2]

=== Later development ===

By 2012, the Super 7s was operating a four-round championship at Action Paintball Games in Rouse Hill. PBLeagues records document rounds in February, May, August and November, with the final event promoted as the Australian Masters.[6][7]

The championship continued through the 2010s with teams including Sydney SWAT, Menace, Hostile Intentions, Sydney X-Fighters, East Side Raw, Perth Crisis, the Wellington Rebels and the Eskimo Brothers.[2]

The series subsequently moved to Action Paintball Games' Yarramundi venue at 770 Springwood Road, New South Wales.[1]