Rugby 7s: In a matter of weeks, players from around the state will descend on Roma for the annual Santos Roma Rugby 7s competition, with a women's cup on offer for the third year in a row.

While interest in the women's competition is mounting, it's not enough for a Roma Echidnas team to enter this year, but that isn't dampening the spirits of Luisa Beesley, who said she'd still find a way to play.

Having played her first 7s game at last year's February competition, Beesley decided to join the local team after years of playing hockey.

"This came up and I thought, why not?,” she said.

"I'll give it a go.

" I grew up watching rugby union and this is just a lot of fun.

"If I had the opportunity to play union, I definitely would, but unfortunately there isn't the interest here for the teams, so 7s is the next best option.”

While there were 13 players registered with the Echidnas women's team last year, the numbers are too low at the moment to enter the 2019 Emilee Cherry Cup.

"Hopefully I will still get to play in with another team but I'm on the committee so even if I don't I'll still be involved.”

Seven women's teams have nominated to play for the cup, but organiser David Hickey said if more than 10 teams registered, they would also introduce a bowl and plate, as they have in the men's league.

"Even seven teams is better than the three we had last year.

"UQ Rugby, which won in 2017, are coming back this year and, hopefully, last year's champions, the Sunshine Coast Stingrays, do too.”