Invitational, provincial, local & school sevens tournaments

[Stargazer]

Otago Men's Sevens:
Taylor Haugh, Ewan Brumwell, Layne Opetia, Josh Buchan, Rory Ward, Ben Tuiomanufili, James Te Pairi, Ben Whale, Jerome Harimate, Charles Elton, Joketane Koroi (captain), Mika Mafi

Manawatu Men's Sevens:
Liam Mitchell, Ben Werthmuller, Kirk Tufuga (c), Tobias Wickham-Manual, Leighton Ralph, Alipate Natoba, Jared Deal, Dan Monaghan, Drew Wild, Kurt Baker, Thomas Kalin, Angus White

Manawatu Women's Sevens:
Crystal May, Hayley Hutana, Lauren Balsillie, Janna Vaughan, Selica Winiata, Krysten Cottrell, Kristina Sue, Sarah Goss, Rhiarna Ferris, Rebekah Tufuga, Georgia Ponsonby, Vaine Greig

Harbour Women's Sevens:
Caitlyn Cox, Cesca Luafalealo, Claudia Hanham, Claudia McMeekin, Georgia Newman, Katelyn Hilton, Kelera Qaraniqio, Kelsey Macdonald, Laishon Jones, Nikita Ngarongo-Porima, Pia Tapsell, Sophie Fisher

[KiwiMurph]

A Sri Lankan in the Auckland side - Muthu Sudharshana - former captain of the Sri Lankan 15s and 7s side.

Good to see some youngsters in that Auckland mens side that are just out of school, Seb Visinia (yes younger brother of), Lemeki Namoa, AJ Lam, Matt Storm

More name recognition in the Women's side.

Auckland Men's Sevens Team:

Salesi Rayasi
Sam Shearer
Seb Visinia
Rocky Khan (C)
Lemeki Namoa
Sam Livingston
Ignacio Costa
Muthu Sudharshana
Lisati Milo-Harris
AJ Lam
Nico Costa
Matt Storm

Head Coach: Edwin Cocker
Assistant Coach: Tutu Tairea

Auckland Women's Sevens Team:

Charlotte Scanlan
Natahlia Moors
Lara Diamond-Brahne
Niall Williams
Charmaine Smith
Tiana Ngawati (C)
Tyla Nathan-Wong
Theresa Fitzpatrick
Kennedy Simon
Abigail Roache
Susana Sotutu
Kiritapu Demant

Head Coach: Crystal Kaua
Assistant Coach: Brent Kaua

[Tim]

@kiwimurph Good to see Nico Costa getting more experience too.

[Stargazer]

Hawke's Bay Men's Sevens:
Ricky Hayes, Teihana Brown (captain), Damien Scott, Al Momoisea, Ausage Fomai, Tyrone Dodd-Edwards, Ioane Lauano, Samuela Korosigasiga, Mitchell Drew, Christopher Johnston, Danny Toala, Timoteo Vaiusu

Hawke's Bay Women's Sevens:
Felicity Powdrell, Niamh Jefferson, Teilah Ferguson, Julie Ferguson-Ngawaka (captain), Kalyn Takitimu-Cook, Hope Hakopa, Marlane Harmer, Laurae Blake, Jessie Fowell, Shaylee Tipiwai, Sincerely Horne, Tash Greville

[Stargazer]

Northland Men's Sevens:
Whiria Meltzer, Renata Roberts-Te Nana, Adam Simpson, Hayden Jurlina, Scott Gregory, Keepa Wiki, Tavite Gadeisuva, Alex Smith, Mac Sykes, Dan Wells, Toby Parr, Tim Blundall

Harbour Men's Sevens:
1 Penetana Ben Smith (Co-Captain), 2. Ethan Roots, 3. Curtis Reid, 4. James Fiebig, 5. James Little, 6. Pita Volavola, 7. Sailosi Vatubua, 9. Patrick Pati, 10. Lewis Gjaltema, 11. Mark Telea, 12. Toddy Doolan, 13. Nick Smith (Co-Captain)

[ARHS]

Looks like a really tough draw for the teams in pool A. Great depth and experience for Taranaki and Waikato, and a very useful Counties line-up. Pools C and D look so much weaker.

[Higgins]

Flicking back from the cricket to check the scores during overs and am left to ponder whether the referee appointments are based on merit or gender.

[Stargazer]

Draw day 2 of the National Sevens (Field 1 games are broadcast live on Sky Sport 3):

[Stargazer]

Men's Shield Semi Finals:
1.35pm Field 1 Mid Canterbury v Southland (result: 24 - 32)
1.35pm Field 2 Northland v Wanganui (result: 38 - 12)

Men's Bowl Semi Finals:
1.55pm Field 2 Counties Manukua v Hawke's Bay (result: 40 - 5)
2.20pm Field 2 Otago v Canterbury (result: 12 - 22)

Men's Plate Semi Finals:
1.55pm Field 1 Auckland v North Harbour (result: 19 - 14)
2.20pm Field 1 Manawatu v Bay of Plenty (result: 7 - 26)

Men's Cup Semi Finals:
2.40pm Field 1 Waikato v Wellington (result: 22 - 5)
3.00pm Field 1 Ta$man v Taranaki (result: 17 - 12)

Men's Shield Final (13th - 14th)
4.15pm Field 1 Southland v Northland (result: 19 - 31)

Men's Bowl Final (9th - 10th)
4.40pm Field 1 Counties Manukau v Canterbury (result: 26 - 5)

Men's Plate Final (5th - 6th)
5.05pm Field 1 Auckland v Bay of Plenty (12 - 31)

Men's Cup Final (1st - 2nd)
6.00pm Field 1 Waikato v Ta$man (result: 21 - 17)

--++--++--++--++--++--

Women's Cup Semi Finals Draw:
12.50pm Field 1 Waikato v Counties Manukau (result: 28 - 0)
1.15pm Field 1 Auckland v Manawatu (result: 12 - 14)

Women's Plate Semi Finals Draw:
12.50pm Field 2 Canterbury v Bay of Plenty (result: 10 - 29)
1.15pm Field 2 Otago v Wellington (result: 0 - 33)

Women's 11th - 12th Place Play-off
3.00pm Field 2 Hawke's Bay v Poverty Bay (result: 17 - 0)

Women's Bowl Final (9th - 10th):
3.25pm Field 1 North Harbour v Southland (result: 0 - 25)

Women's 7h - 8th Place Play-off
3.25pm Field 2 Canterbury v Otago (result: 5 - 10)

Women's Plate Final (5th - 6th)
3.50pm Field 1 Bay of Plenty v Wellington (result: 31 - 7)

Women's 3rd - 4th Place Play-off
3.50pm Field 2 Counties Manuakau v Auckland (result: 0 - 24)

Women's Cup Fina (1st - 21nd)
5.35pm Field 1 Waikato v Manawatu (result: 15 - 17)

[Stargazer]

Quite a few upsets this weekend, but not Waikato. Again both the men's and women's team in the Cup Final.

Have updated today's draw and added results in the post above.

[Stargazer]

Manawatu takes out the women's Cup Final, and Waikato the men's. Both finals were close and exciting, but I think the right teams won, especially after watching their other games. Ta$man have been a great surprise, though.

I've seen some great sevens this weekend; can't wait to find out which players will pick up the remaining spots in the BF7s and AB7s squads.

[Bovidae]

Not having Sky at the moment or spending much time on TSF I didn’t even know the national sevens was on over the weekend. I only saw brief try highlights on TV last night. Waikato were seconds away from doing the double.

How did Bunce jr go for the Mooloos?

[Chris B.]

@bovidae said in Invitational, provincial, local & school sevens tournaments:

How did Bunce jr go for the Mooloos?

Player of the tournament I believe.

[ARHS]

@bovidae

Bunce shows good vision and the pace to exploit opportunities. The initial gameplan was to spread ball wide to Ratuva to suck in multiple defenders, but teams got wise to that. So, then they placed more emphasis on Bunce and Reece as twin play-makers. Bunce's presence around the breakdown became a threat as he exploited gaps. He and Teddy Stanaway were the most influential players in the tournament, although Ta$man seemed to have the best teamwork. Reece started patchily, but became highly influential, second only to Bunce for Waikato.

Another notable was Te Tamaki, with several amazing defensive plays as sweeper. Waikato desperately needed that with their frustrating inability to secure kick-offs and lineouts. Guildford, Campbell and Bristowe were all impressive when they were in play.

A few energetic and competitive forwards really impressed, Schrijvers from Wellington, Ng Shiu and Stephens for Ta$man, Lewis Ormond (Taranaki) and Luke Masirewa (BOP). Warwick Lahmert, James Lash, Jesse Pittman and Ignacio Costa were great playmakers, but there were not many prominent finishers. Levi Harmon and Ngarohi McGarvey were an exception though.

Oddly, 3 of the best 4 or 5 teams were in the same pool!

[98blueandgold]

Really disappointed with quality of players on show, still no international quality speed coming through!!
Players on fringe of ab7s looked class above, most notably stanaway, Ng shu, Te Tamaki, Ormand ect.
It's hard now compared to a few years ago as 15s systems take all quality players and none seem to be released. Super players, wtg players, those covering for inj/ all blacks and those in 20s programme do not attend.
This coupled with fact Rotorua is an awful host compared to Qntwn in the past makes this a pointless tournament with the way pathways are now. #salty

[ARHS]

@98blueandgold

Why is Rotorua such an awful host in your view? I have enjoyed the ability to put a blanket on the grassy slopes and enjoy, and to get up close on the second ground.

[98blueandgold]

@arhs the good old days at Qnstwn, tourists, in town, higher quality players created a better spectacle I believe. Not a slight on Rotorua but those days the Torny was at its height I think

[Stargazer]

Fifth annual Sir Gordon Tietjens Sevens tournament (played @ Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North on Friday 2 March from 3pm-9pm and Saturday 3 March from 8.30am to 2.30pm)

Pools:

Draw: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OKPr4PE1trrBHY2RGSGmslehwxt1svym/view

[Stargazer]

Not Sevens but Hong Kong Tens

As every year, an invitational Tens tournament takes place in Hong Kong on the days before the Hong Kong leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series. This year is no different and it's incredible to see the number of New Zealanders on the team lists! I don't know half of them, by the way, but have a look if you're interested: http://hongkongtens.com/teams2.php

[Stargazer]

Waikato Men’s and Women’s sevens head coaches reappointed

The Waikato Rugby Union have reappointed Waikato Seven’s head coaches Steve Ketu (men’s) and Teresa Te Tamaki (women’s) for the 2018 sevens campaign later this year.

Steve Ketu was Roger Randle’s assistant coach before taking over the head coach role of the Men’s team in 2017. In his first year as head coach, Ketu, picked up three tournament wins and a fifth place during the Waikato’s Men’s 2017/18 sevens campaign.

Teresa Te Tamaki took over as Women’s head coach from Reuben Samuel at the end of the 2016/17 campaign. Te Tamaki’s first tournament as head coach guided the women to a cup semi final spot at the PUC Sevens, before claiming the Northern Regional title in Cambridge.

There has been a change in dates for the Northern Regional Sevens and Bayley’s National Sevens tournaments. The Northern Regional’s will be played in November, a change from its usual date of mid December.

The Bayley’s National Sevens tournament will shift from its usual mid January date to mid December, so all major seven’s tournaments are played in a single calendar year. There will also be a change of venue, with the tournament moving from Rotorua International Stadium to the Tauranga Domain.