San Diego will host one of the most popular GAA Sevens competitions outside Ireland this weekend when teams will flock from all over North America to the West Coast Sevens.

The tournament involves round robin Gaelic football and hurling tournaments for both men and women played on four fields.

The Calgary Chieftains and the Regulators Hurling Club from Denver will debut at the Sevens alongside teams from Arizona, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.

Jerome Quinn visited the San Diego GAA training sessions this week to talk to American-born players who are enjoying an upturn in numbers and interest.

Wendy LeVine plays for San Diego Na Fianna and says they are ‘fired up’ for the Sevens. She discussed the Sevens, the visit of Calgary Chieftains, the impact of the Ladies All Stars visit and Na Fianna’s determination to be successful over the weekend.

Ohio-born Mike Woodruff is with the St Peter’s Hurling Club and is delighted with the growth of gaelic games in the States.

I remember our first year if we could get six guys out, it was lucky,” Woodruff explained. “We dreamed of the day we could play seven on seven.

“But we’re growing, this year we’ve been in the mid-twenties every training session.

Find out more at the West Coast Sevens facebook page.

With thanks to @JeromeQuinn for the video.