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Next generation of Kiwi sevens stars revealed
By Online Editors
The rising stars of the New Zealand Sevens scene will assemble in Tauranga in January with their sights set on the 2019 All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens Development teams.
Numerous domestic sevens tournaments, including the inaugural Red Bull Ignite7 and last weekend’s TECT National Sevens, have uncovered 51 players that will take part in two trials in January.
New Zealand Rugby’s High Performance Talent Development Sevens Manager Chad Tuoro said the domestic sevens season had uncovered potential stars.
“In the past two months there have been more opportunities than ever before for young players to get on the field and impress.
“And they have done exactly that, our game is in a good place when you see the talent that is coming through. Now our job is to bring them together and see who has the ability to take that next step.
“Our development programmes are proven pathways to the professional environment. Akuila Rokolisoa and Salesi Rayasi went from development team members to World Cup winners in 2018 and we have seen a number of development players graduate into the Black Ferns Sevens squad,” said Tuoro.
The All Blacks Sevens Development trial will see 28 players vie for places in the in 2019 Development team that will assemble for two camps. The trial will take place on 11-13 January.
Players attending the Black Ferns Sevens Development trial, from 14-18 January, will have extra motivation with four wider training contracts on offer, along with places in the 2019 Development squad.
The players selected for the trials are as follows:
| Black Ferns Sevens Development | All Blacks Sevens Development | |||
| Janna Vaughan | Carlos Donnell-Brown | |||
| Natahlia Moors | Robert Rush | |||
| Tysha Ikenasio | Hunter Mokomoko | |||
| Kennedy Simon | Peni Lasaqa | |||
| Kiki Tahere | Rewita Biddle | |||
| Mererangi Paul | William Warbrick | |||
| Tynealle Fitzgerald | Dan Fransen | |||
| Grace Steinmetz | Pisi Leilua | |||
| Kendall Buckingham | Tyrone Dodd-Edwards | |||
| Carys Dallinger | Te Rangitira Waitokia | |||
| Crystal Mayes | Curtis Reid | |||
| Hayley Hutana | James Little | |||
| Kalyn Takitimu-Cook | Pita Volavola | |||
| Lauren Balsillie | Taylor Haugh | |||
| Amy Du Plessis | Jacob Kneepkens | |||
| Tiana Davison | Liam Blyde | |||
| Chey Robins-Reti | Rhodes Featherston | |||
| Leanna Ryan | Te Puoho Stephens | |||
| Rina Paraone | Daniel Sinkinsin | |||
| Violet Hapi | Declan O'Donnell | |||
| Dhys Faleafaga | Jordan Bunce | |||
| Marcelle Parkes | Josh Moorby | |||
| Rosi Lomani | Kurt Heatherley | |||
| Valynce Te Whare | ||||
| Adam Simpson | ||||
| Dan Schrivers | ||||
| Losi Filipo | ||||
| Roderick Solo |
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Latest Comments
Larry Brown was 63 when he won the NBA, and Phil Jackson was 64.
I guess my general feeling in rugby is that most coaches seem to decline quite a bit when they hit 60, and to be coaching at the top level when you’re 65 or older is extremely rare. Maybe in american sports people have another 5 years, but that doesn’t seem like a massive difference.
Either way, I’m going to stick with my verdict that appointing Les Kiss at age 60 would be ok as a short term deal - but appointing him at 63 and expecting him to last 4 years would be foolish.
Go to commentsWe come off a loss and a big one to Moana Pasifika and 2 years in a row losing to the Drua. The motivation to reverse that is huge. This competition has been unpredictable. I believe the return of inform players like Antonio Shalfoon , Christian Lio-Willie will make a huge difference.Tom Christie, who played so well in his 2 starts and Corrie Kellow will be raring to go. We missed David Havili, the form second five and captain last week, he thankfully will be back soon. But Codie Taylor is a great choice to captain in the mean time in David’s absence.
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