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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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I agree that Sititi has been brilliant this season and hopefully will be an AB for a long time. However the one constant positive for the ABs this year has been the scrum, so players of the year have to be the larger gentlemen amongst us. Take a bow the props!
Go to commentsRowlands has performed poorly this autumn. He is clearly not 100% fit as he did not make any yards with ball in hand and his impact at the breakdown was nowhere near his usual levels. it sums up the whole Welsh set up at the moment, simply not fit enough. There was 1kg difference in pack weights but the physicality and athleticism and desire of the SA pack was the benchmark for what Wales need to aspire to. Onus on the regions and the players themselves with personal pride to get themselves fitter.
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