Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens withdraw from World Series

Photo: Kenji Demura / www.photosport.nz

Neither of New Zealand’s two national sevens teams, the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens, will participate in next month’s World Sevens Series tournaments in Spain.

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite plans for both teams to compete in their first World Sevens Series tournaments since March 2020, the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens have withdrawn from the Spain legs of the 2021-22 campaign due to New Zealand’s MIQ restrictions.

The New Zealand Government has delayed the re-opening of its borders until at least late February, which has proved to be too big a hurdle to overcome for both sides given the Malaga and Seville tournaments kick-off at the end of this month.

Video Spacer

RugbyPass Offload | Episode 16

Video Spacer

RugbyPass Offload | Episode 16

Confirmation of New Zealand’s withdrawal from both the men’s and women’s World Sevens Series tournaments comes on the same day that the 2022 All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens squads were announced.

New Zealand’s withdrawal from those competitions also falls in the same year that both teams are scheduled to defend their Commonwealth Games title between July and August.

The Tokyo Olympics silver and gold medal winners will then defend their Sevens World Cup titles in Cape Town in September.

All Blacks Sevens head coach Clark Laidlaw has subsequently been left frustrated by the lack of international competition in the lead-up to this year’s two major events.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It’s frustrating not being able to travel at the moment but that is out of our control,” he said via a statement.

“What we can control is what we do here each day, the players have come back in great spirits and now its time to crack on, we’ll be ready for whenever the borders open and we can travel.”

New Zealand Rugby is now investigating domestic competition options for both the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens while the borders remain shut.

2022 All Blacks Sevens squad

Kurt Baker, Leroy Carter, Che Clark, Dylan Collier, Scott Curry, Sam Dickson, Rhodes Featherstone, Trael Joass, Andrew Knewstubb, Moses Leo, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia, Tone Ng Shiu, Amanaki Nicole, Akuila Rokolisoa, Brady Rush, Roderick Solo, Caleb Tangitau, Kitiona Vai, Regan Ware, Joe Webber

2022 Black Ferns Sevens squad

Shakira Baker, Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Stacey Fluhler, Sarah Hirini, Jaz Hotham, Shiray Kaka, Jorja Millar, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Manaia Nuku, Risi Pouri-Lane, Alena Saili, Terina Te Tamaki, Kelsey Teneti, Ruby Tui, Niall Williams, Tenika Willison, Portia Woodman

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ “He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation “He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation
Search