Eight gold medalists from the Paris Olympic Games will compete in the Black Ferns Sevens at the Elevate Sevens in the Bay of Plenty this week. As New Zealand’s women’s and men’s teams continue their preparations for the HSBC SVNS Series, Te Puke will host the two-day event.
On Thursday it was announced that Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Sarah Hirini, Jorja Miller, Manaia Nuku, Mahina Paul, Risi Pouri-Lane, Alena Saili and Theresa Setefano will wear the black jersey at the Murray Salt Stadium.
Michaela Blyde, Tyla King, Stacey Waaka and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe are the quartet missing from the squad that helped Team New Zealand win gold at July’s Olympics as the Black Ferns Sevens prepare to enter a new era.
King and Woodman-Wickliffe have both retired from international sevens competition, with King currently playing rugby league for the St George Illawarra Dragons and Kiwi Ferns in the NRLW. For Woodman-Wickliffe, the legendary no. 11 recently put pen to paper with Blues Women.
However, the Black Ferns Sevens have some exciting talent and the Elevate Sevens will provide the opportunity for some players to impress. Keep an eye out for Kelsey Teneti and Tysha Ikenasio, who were named Olympic travel reserves.
Miller and Pouri-Lane are among the best women’s sevens players in the world, so watch out for the pair as they prepare for the HSBC SVNS Series opener in Dubai later this month. But overall, this is a team that boasts some truly world-class players.
The All Blacks Sevens will take the field as they prepare for a new era without one of their key players from the past few years. Leroy Carter has signed a contract with Super Rugby Pacific side Chiefs, which leaves a void in the team that needs to be filled.
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Sione Milia, Tone Ng Shiu, Lewis Ormond, Akuila Rokolisoa, Joe Webber and Cody Vai are among the stalwarts of the squad. But the most interesting selection was the inclusion of Waikato utility Ollie Mathis.
Mathis began the National Provincial Championship season with Waikato. Started three of his four appearances at openside flanker. But injuries prompted a surprising reshuffle, with Matisse wearing the number 14 jumper in two games to finish the season.
Those two games were the semi-finals and semi-finals.
It’s versatility that could be a key asset for the All Blacks Sevens moving forward. Fletcher Carpenter, Jack Gray, Jayden Keelan, Maloni Kunawave, Joey Taumateine ​​and Frank Vaenukuu make up the team.
The men’s draw features the Chiefs, Hurricanes and New Zealand Cavillers men’s teams. Chiefs Manawa, Hurricanes Poua and New Zealand Cavillers Women’s teams will face the Black Ferns Sevens.
All Black Sevens
Fletcher Carpenter, Jack Gray, Jayden Keelan, Maloney Kunawave, Olly Mathis, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Sion Molia, Ton Ng Siu, Lewis Ormond, Aquila Locolisoa, Joey Thaumatein, Frank Banuku, Joe Weber, Codmeru Bye
Black Ferns Sevens
Kelsey Tennetti, Dice Palipaga, Jazmine Felix-Hotham, Sarah Hirini, Taisha Ikenasio, Justin McGregor, Jorja Miller, Manaia Nuku, Mahina Paul, Rishi Puri-Lane, Alena Sailey, Theresa Setepano
