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New Zealand Sevens name squads for high-stakes World Championship
By Finn Morton
New Zealand Sevens have named the travelling squads for the last HSBC SVNS Series event of the season. Los Angeles’s Dignity Health Sports Park will host the winner-takes-all World Championship on May 3-4, where the overall Series champions will be crowned.
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After falling agonisingly short of the overall championship in 2023/24, the Black Ferns Sevens will look to make amends this time around, with coach Cory Sweeney naming a star-studded squad which includes some athletes bound for 15s.
When it was revealed last month that seven stars from New Zealand’s women’s sevens side had committed to 15s in a bid to play the upcoming Rugby World Cup in England, it was understood that only Jorja Miller and Stacey Waaka would be made available for LA.
LA’s Dignity Health Sports Park will host the World Championship and SVNS Series playoffs on May 3-4. Don’t miss out – buy your tickets HERE.
Both Miller and Waaka have been named, but so have Risi Pouri-Lane and Kelsey Teneti. Teneti has played 15s for the Black Ferns before, and Waaka helped the New Zealanders win the last Rugby World Cup on home soil – but a new challenge awaits for Miller and Pouri-Lane.
Miller received Player of the Final honours in Hong Kong China after crossing for a double. Pouri-Lane also stood tall in the SVNS Singapore Cup Final earlier this month, as the team vice-captain was recognised as the Player off the Final in that decider.
Sarah Hirini will captain the squad that also includes Michalea Brake, Jazin Felix-Hotham, Maia Davis, Justine McGregor, Mahina Paul and Olive Watherston. Two potential debutants have also been named, those being Jaymie Kolose and Le-Oxeayn Maiu’u.
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Dhys Faleafaga, Alena Saili and Theresa Setefano are all unavailable due to their commitments with New Zealand’s 15s side. Manaia Nuku and Shiray Kaka are also out with injuries – Kaka suffering a devastating injury in Singapore last season.
As for the men’s side, they’ll desperately look to improve after placing seventh on the ladder at the end of the round-robin. The All Blacks Sevens performed well at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens before suffering a quarter-final exit.
Eight players are unavailable, including some highly-experienced campaigners. Joe Webber, Sione Molia, Andrew Knewstubb, Joey Taumateine, Oli Mahis, Xavier Tito-Harris, Lewis Ormond and Roderick Solo are all out.
Dylan Collier will captain a side that features one possible debutant in Sam Howling. Jack Gray, Sofai Maka, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Tone Ng Shiu, Amanaki Nicole, Akuila Rokolisoa, Brady Rush, Rob Rush, Frank Vaenuku, Cody Vai, Kitiona Vai and Regan Ware will also travel.
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The All Blacks Sevens have been drawn into an extremely tough pool against Singapore winners Fiji, Spain and traditional rivals Australia. League Winners Argentina will take on South Africa, France and Great Britain in the other pool.
In women’s sevens, the Black Ferns Sevens will meet Canada during pool play in a rematch of the Paris Olympics gold medal match. Japan and Great Britain are also in Pool A, while Australia will face France, the USA and Fiji in Pool B.
Black Ferns Sevens travelling squad
Michalea Brake, Maia Davis, Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Sarah Hirini (c), Jaymie Kolose, Le-Oxeayn Maiu’u, Justine McGregor, Jorja Miller, Mahina Paul, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (vc), Kelsey Teneti, Stacey Waaka, Olive Watherston
All Blacks Sevens travelling squad
Dylan Colier (c), Sam Howling, Jack Gray, Sofai Maka, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Tone Ng Shiu, Amanaki Nicole, Akuila Rokolisoa, Brady Rush, Rob Rush, Frank Vaenuku, Cody Vai, Kitiona Vai, Regan Ware
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Men’s pools for SVNS Series World Championship
Pool A: Argentina, South Africa, France, Great Britain
Pool B: Fiji, Spain, Australia, New Zealand
Women’s pools for SVNS Series World Championship
Pool A: New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Great Britain
Pool B: Australia, France, USA, Fiji
Don’t think you need to worry about this AB 7s side climbing up off the canvas to win this tournament. They have not performed well at any stage and are mediocre at best.
Bloody hell. After a sh*t circuit series, the AB7s can become men’s SVNS SERIES CHAMPIONS by winning in LA 😂😂😂 With the return of the Rocketman, plus more pace to burn on-hand, this is a strong possibility.
Madness!!!
Ridiculous that one tournament should decide the championship as this means making all the effort of previous tournaments redundant. World Rugby gets it wrong yet again !!!!
No argument from me on all of what you said.
On a positive note so glad to see Akuila and Kitiona both back from long term injuries.
In the BF7s excited to see how the two new girls go, both have gas to burn, and in 7s there's no substitute for pass