With the Rugby World Cup coming to it’s final stages the focus now shifts to the Olympic Games where rugby sevens is making it’s debut and with the new World Sevens Series beginning soon teams have taken this opportunity at the UON Central Coast Sevens, to be held in Kawal New South Wales, as a chance test out new combinations and give new players a chance to fight for their spot to the World Sevens Series and most of all the Rio Olympics. The competition is for 16 Men’s and 16 Women’s Teams in Pools of four from clubs, national, development or invitational sides competing. New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Germany and Hong Kong are sending development teams with household names in rugby 7s to begin the new season as they begin their quest for that Olympic Gold medal in Rio. The tournament will be held on the weekend from the 24-25 October. The Australian Men’s and The Fijiana team are using this tournament as final warm up before the Oceania Olympic Qualifier in New Zealand to be held at The Trust Arena, Waitakare, from the 14-15 November.
Road to Rio Olympics Begins at the Central Coast Sevens
The defending champs Daveta from Fiji, fresh from defending their World 7s title in Limerick, Ireland in August with some Fijian 7s players have lots on their plate as they try to defend their title with strong competition from fellow Fiji teams in Red Rock, Tabadamu and Yamacia. There is also the big threat from the New Zealand Development side, the Aussie Thunderbolts and Canadian Maple Leafs all boasting seasoned sevens stars to contend with.
In the Men’s Division Defending Champs Daveta leads Pool A with Tiger Rugby (USA), Hong Kong and Ozboks (Aust). New Zealand Development leads Pool B with Yamacia (Fiji), Aust 7s Development and Sunnybank. Pool D has the Canadian Maple Leafs, Wellington (NZ), Tabadamu (Fiji) and Manly (Aust) while Pool C is lead by hosts the Aussie Thunderbolts, Red Rock (Fiji), Germany and Rangataua (Fiji).
New Zealand Rugby 7’s guru Gordon Tietjens has named a development side featuring seasoned players like Captain Scott Curry, DJ Forbes, Tim Mikkelson, Lewis Ormond, Murphy Taramai, Sherwin Stowers, comeback kid Luke Masirewa and new kid on the block 18 year old Rotorua High School back Issac Te Aute. The defending champs Daveta have the Fiji 7s reps the likes of Jasa Veremalua, Apisai Domolailai, Waisea Nacuqu, Jerry Tuwai and Savenaca Rawaca who were all part of Ben Ryan’s World Sevens Series winning team. Tabadamu, Byron Bay 7s Champions also of Fiji has the likes of Sitiveni Waqa, Jone Vota, Leo Naikasau, Joseph Dunn and veteran Setefano Cakau. The Canadian Maple Leafs coached by Liam Middleton has named a team to be led by Sean Duke with regulars Lucas Hammond and Sean White. Wellington (NZ) coached Scott Waldrom, heir apparent to Sir Gordon Tietjens, has a young squad, including Roy Kinikinilau. Rangataua, also from the Land of the Long White Cloud, has the services of former All Blacks sevens rep Matt Clutterbuck. The Aussie Thunderbolts, led by interim coach Tim Walsh, has the services of World Sevens Series reps in Tom Cusack, Allan Fa’alava’au, Con Foley, Greg Jeloudev, Peter Schuster, James Stannard, Shannon Walker, returning veteran former Waratahs flanker Pat McCutcheon and his new deputy 18 year old flanker Henry Hutchinson. Yamacia of Fiji has the services of former Fiji7s reps in Donasio Ratubuli, Jone Qoro and current Fiji halfback Amenoni Nasilasila.
In the Women’s Kinesio Cup Competition, Pool A is topped by Canada Maple Leafs with their Women’s World Sevens Series reps and are lead by Jen Kish, with Manly, Australia B and Ozboks following. Pool B has New Zealand Developmental, which has the services of Kelly Brazier, Sarah Goss and returnee Huriana Manuel and also includes the Indigenous side. Lloyd McDermott, Rugirl (Japan) and Greater Sydney Rams which has Cobie Jane Morgan and Nita Mayard. Pool C has the Aussie Pearls side that boasts 116 World Series caps between the 12 selected players, captained by Sharni Williams. Also in the squad is 2014 Women’s World Rugby Player of the Year Emilee Cherry and 2015 nominee Charlotte Caslick, as well as World Series regulars Shannon Parry, Alicia Quirk, Emma Tonegato and Ellia Green, alongside New Zealand Wasps (NZ), Nadi Blazers (Fiji) and Hunter 7s (Aust). Pool D is headed by Fijiana, the shadow Fiji side that is using this tournament as the final warm up to the Oceania Womens Olympic Qualifier in New Zealand and is led by captain Ana Roqica with World Series regulars Lavenia Tinai and Asinate Savu. CCAs, Sunnybank and Star 7s a Barbarian side that features players from USA, Australia, New Zealand and Netherlands and is led by veteran Kristy Giteau with Dutch Internationals Jannicke Iydens and Nikki Weyers make up the rest of the pool.
Tournament Director Craig Morgan, speaking to Last Word On Sports, said “Fans can expect fast, physical and exciting sevens action with some of the very best teams and players from around the world competing. End to end tries, big collisions, exciting wins and heartbreaking losses”.
The winner of the Men’s Competition walks way with $20,000AUD and Women’s Champion receives $15,000AUD. The tournament can be watched through livestream on BAR TV.
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