Sherwin Stowers dives in to score for the All Black Sevens.

Emosi Mulevoro of Fiji dives over to score a try against New Zealand.

New Zealand's Ben Lam rides the tackle of a Fijian defender.

Head coach Simon Amor of England looks on during the Pool A match between England and Portugal.

James Johnstone of Scotland runs in to score with Canada's Nanyak Dala in pursuit.

New Zealand's Ben Lam crosses next to the posts during the semifinal against England.

Sherwin Stowers has a disagreement with two England players during their semifinal.

New Zealand captain DJ Forbes celebrates with the fans at Wellington Stadium.

The New Zealand sevens team celebrate in the changing rooms after their Wellington Sevens final victory over South Africa.

The victorious New Zealand sevens team perform a haka for the Wellington crowd.

New Zealand captain DJ Forbes with the Wellington Sevens trophy.

Burst of flames fire off behind the victorious New Zealand sevens team in Wellington.

It was cloudy, but it didn't rain until the meatballs showed up.

Wellingtonian Lulu Matthews and her five pasta-clad mates stopped to pose for photos outside Westpac Stadium when the skies let rip.

Thousands of soggy sevens fans streamed past, ready for the first day of Wellington's biggest costume party - oh, and the rugby tournament.

1 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ These fans got especially pixellated for the occasion. 2 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Richie Benaud fans Henry Cameron, left, Richie Ball and Choi Jackson. 3 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ A belly dancer is escorted out of Westpac Stadium. 4 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Dennis Watling comes to the Sevens each year - for the rugby - and was prepared for the rain. 5 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Scots Andre Hoggard, Caitlin Williams, Paige Kenning and Kit Bradley. 6 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Minions from Auckland, Sophie Cameron, Morgan Smith and Larissa Pedersen. 7 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Smudge McNeilage and the paua women. 8 of 31 KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ Kevin Banaghan and 'gorilla'. 9 of 31 KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ Wellington's Abigail Moir and Johnny Crothers as Ken and Barbie. 10 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Hamilton cavemen and cavewomen. 11 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ A Christchurch Hangover 'wolfpack'. 12 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ A gaggle of Billy T James'. 13 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Jamaican bob sled team Ryan Walker, Mike Barnett, Mitch Steele and Blair Williams. 14 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Norman Hemi, front, leads his wolf pack. 15 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Monopoly women Nicola Taylor, left, Helena Quinn, Jan Grindle and Chantal Fuhl. 16 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Mad hatters Clint and Teresa McKenzie. 17 of 31 KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ The Canadians: Shea Martinm, Meredith Barrett-Jones, Arielle Martin and Briana Hungerford. 18 of 31 CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ Beauty queens Katie O'Loughlan, left, Stacey Craig, Ashleigh McCutcheon and Rachel Watson. 19 of 31 KEVIN STENT/Fairfax NZ Tongan Native Americans. 20 of 31 KEVIN STENT/Fairfax NZ Amy Brookes and Ben Fox were actually pretty easy to spot in their Where's Wally? costumes. 21 of 31 MAARTEN HOLL/Fairfax NZ This group of lords and ladies seem dressed for a different kind of party altogether. 22 of 31 MAARTEN HOLL/Fairfax NZ These guys escaped from jail just to join the celebrations. 23 of 31 KEVIN STENT/Fairfax NZ Cory Heather and James Scott as that perennial Sevens favourite, Speedo Cops. 24 of 31 MAARTEN HOLL/Fairfax NZ Judy Brokenshire, Lyn Weir, Dale Thompson and Tracey Hall have been coming to the sevens for 14 years and counting. 25 of 31 KEVIN STENT/Fairfax NZ Kurt Umbers and Hemi Hoskins are dressed as pop group LMFAO. 26 of 31 MAARTEN HOLL/FAIRFAX NZ Bo Simkin, left, and Claire parkinson both from Eastbourne as super heroes. 27 of 31 MAARTEN HOLL/FAIRFAX NZ Punters start their warm-up for the sevens. Pirates, from Auckland, from left, Caznae Raynes, Ashleigh Robinson, Connor Robinson, Carol Robinson and Phil Raynes. 28 of 31 MAARTEN HOLL/Fairfax NZ Back row from left, Robert Makene, Steve Burgess, Christine Paul, and front row from left Sapphire Martin and Maree Cheshire get ready to go. 29 of 31 MAARTEN HOLL/Fairfax NZ Punters, from left, Paul Garrett, Jesse Garrett, Brian Martelletti, Marcus Garrett, Shane Hamnett and Randy Toone, plan to arrive at the Sevens on horseback. 30 of 31 MAARTEN HOLL/Fairfax NZ The "Jarmy Army", from left, Dean Holland, Dene Cassin, Herb Bell and Jeff Geayley warm up for the sevens on the Wellington waterfront. 31 of 31 MAARTEN HOLL/Fairfax NZ Ultimate sevens fan Waitangi Mika, centre, and the Doctours are ready for action.

The pasta bowls were one of the more elaborate costumes on show yesterday, with each dish taking four hours to whip together with wool and fabric. "We just got bundles and bundles of it and went large," Matthews said.

"But we could sit down; we made it so we could go to the bathroom - clearly that's a big point - and we could manoeuvre ourselves dancing."

Last year, the friends went as bathtubs, which did not go the distance.

MAARTEN HOLL/Fairfax Media CRAZY COSTUMES: Waterfront madness as costumed crowds gather before heading to the stadium.

"We got ripped apart by the public."

Earlier in the day, a scantily clad Ginger Spice - who refused to give his real name - rollerbladed along the waterfront to the cheers of hundreds of punters hanging from the balcony of Foxglove bar. Like several other men, he had grabbed the opportunity to wear visibly skimpy underwear.

"The g-banger came with the costume," Ginger said. "People sort of cheer and when they see me from behind they're like: Oh, oh god, I can't unsee that."

Nearby, a group from Nelson in elaborate gowns and dinner suits fanned themselves in the heat. "We're melting," Diane McFarlane said.

All the way from Mt Maunganui, four "Glitter Blacks" shone in silver coats and lashings of body glitter. It was their 14th sevens in a row, head glitter black Jody Brokenshire said.

And what kept them coming back?

"Perving at all the boys."

At 2pm, the stadium was mostly empty but when New Zealand kicked off against Fiji an hour later, seats were starting to fill up. However, most people barely seemed to notice when the home team went down 12-7.

One of the few who did, Dennis Watling, sat alone in the rain a couple of aisles from a row of monks. He has travelled from Kaikohe for the past nine years for the tournament.

"I've got a coat," he said. "I come here for the rugby."

Later in the day, a young woman in a sailor outfit giggled as blood streamed out of a gaping wound in her knee. She left a blood trail as she was helped to paramedics.

By 9pm, 15 revellers were being treated at Wellington Hospital, most for injuries from fighting rather than drunkenness, hospital spokesman Matt Paterson said.

Wellington Free Ambulance spokesman Daniel Paul said it had taken 20 people to hospital from Westpac Stadium, most of them to be treated for intoxication.

Police said ten people had been arrested at the stadium, where a "high level of intoxication" was seen, and 160 people were ejected.

Police said they were "disappointed with the alcohol management" at the stadium, and hoped both the stadium management and the public would make "a big improvement" tonight.

"The wristband system appeared to break down and many people consumed and purchased liquor contrary to the agreed procedure," police said.