Invitational, provincial, local & school sevens tournaments
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It's interesting to see who is involved in the coaching staff of each team. There are some big names there. For example, Waisake Sotutu is the coach of the NZ Fijian Girls team, and Mark Nawaqanitawase is one of his assistant coaches. DJ Forbes is the NZ Fijian Boys coach.
Carlos Spencer is part of the Cavaliers coaching group.
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@Bovidae said in Invitational, provincial, local & school sevens tournaments:
I can't say I recognise any of the names, apart from the co-coach.
List with schools:
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS UNDER-18 BOYS
AMALANI TAIALA (St Kentigern College)
ANTONIO ULUGIA (Aorere College)
AUGUSTINO FILIPO (De La Salle College)
BEN MONAGHAN (St Kentigern College)
COMPTON PURCELL (St Paul’s College)
DEZMAN LABAN (Kelston Boys’ High School)
EZEKIEL FAGA-IETI (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
FRANK VAENUKU (De La Salle College)
GABRIEL SHEPHERD (De La Salle College)
HAAMI LOZA (De La Salle College)
JACKSON STEWART (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
JOSIAH TUPOU-VEA (St Peter’s College)
JUNIOR SIKUVEA (De La Salle College)
KAAWYN PATTERSON (Westlake Boys’ High School)
KANAAN TALIA-MAGELE (De La Salle College)
KYAN ALO (Mt Albert Grammar School)
LUCKY KALI (St Paul’s College)
NATE BROWN (Kelston Boys’ High School)
NOAH JENSEN (Westlake Boys’ High School)
TAIPARI WIKITERA (Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Maungarongo)
TE WAAKA POPATA-HENARE (Mt Albert Grammar School)
VITALIANO ROACHE (St Peter’s College)https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2022/12/08/boys-team-named-for-second-tilt-at-world-school-sevens/
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I'm curious what has happened to Francis Manuleleua. There were stories he was going to RL, but obviously not the Warriors (if true), and he didn't make the NZ Schools rugby teams. Maybe injured?
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@Bovidae said in Invitational, provincial, local & school sevens tournaments:
A few players from St John's Hamilton, which Sweeney was helping coach at the Condors.
They only lost one game all tournament, and that because they missed their conversions. There's some very good players in that side.
Micah Fale, who is still only 16, is a beast. Probably too small to play 15s to the top level, but sevens maybe.
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@Bovidae said in Invitational, provincial, local & school sevens tournaments:
A few players from St John's Hamilton, which Sweeney was helping coach at the Condors.
They only lost one game all tournament, and that because they missed their conversions. There's some very good players in that side.
Micah Fale, who is still only 16, is a beast. Probably too small to play 15s to the top level, but sevens maybe.
@Chester-Draws said in Invitational, provincial, local & school sevens tournaments:
@Bovidae said in Invitational, provincial, local & school sevens tournaments:
A few players from St John's Hamilton, which Sweeney was helping coach at the Condors.
They only lost one game all tournament, and that because they missed their conversions. There's some very good players in that side.
I watched St John's play twice during the year. They fell away badly at the end of the season when the CNI title was there for the taking, and obviously didn't fire much of a shot against Hamilton BHS. Quite a few of their players made the Chiefs U18s, and Jack O'Brien was selected for the NZ Barbarians U18s. They had a big backline.
Micah Fale, who is still only 16, is a beast. Probably too small to play 15s to the top level, but sevens maybe.
He is in the NZ U18s sevens squad.
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It’s guesswork regarding results and strength of teams but it looks like the great turnout could also bring luck into play more. The curse of the draw in 7s can mean that sometimes the best teams meet early in the knockout stages and this looks entirely possible here as well.
I looked at a couple of team’s draws and found they may be worse off by winning their pool.
On the positive side, all teams get a decent number of games. -
@Bovidae yeah I saw the Canadian team and a guy that was at WBHS last year and in NH dev side this year is there...they topped up squads with locals?
@taniwharugby said in Invitational, provincial, local & school sevens tournaments:
@Bovidae yeah I saw the Canadian team and a guy that was at WBHS last year and in NH dev side this year is there...they topped up squads with locals?
Some will have. There’s always last minute no shows with travelling teams for various reasons.
It’s a reason why this tournament can work as there isn’t a shortage of capable local players to fill gaps. -
@taniwharugby One of the real Canadian players has a cousin playing for the Asian Dragons. There is a video on the World Schools 7s FB page.
And we'll have to wait to see some NZ teams play as they haven't released a squad list.
