It was the final day of rigourous trainings today for the All Blacks Sevens squad, training at Auckland’s King’s College in preparation for the Noosa International Sevens this weekend.
Noosa International Sevens, which is sanctioned by Oceania Rugby, features 46 men’s and women’s teams including teams from Fiji, New Caledonia, the German national team and teams from around Australia.
The team is heading over under the team name, ‘New Zealand Development Team’, however, is comprised primarily of All Blacks Sevens stars for the HSBC World Series.
Newcomer to the side, Isaac Te Aute is looking forward to the opportunity to travel with the side, a vast change from heading “just up the road for games”, with Rotorua Boys’ High School side, who he captained to a national championship this year.
He says, “It’s a good environment, everyone is welcoming, and hopefully I can play some good footy.”
Experienced journeyman of the side, Gillies Kaka says that Te Aute is doing well to fit in to the professional environment. “He’s got a good head on him, that’s for sure,” said Kaka.
Kaka and Te Aute are only two of the five Māori players, including Ngāi Tūhoe speedster, Beaudein Waaka selected to represent their country at the Noosa tournament, a total of 14 selected by Sir Gordon Tietjens as he looks for suitable combinations before the HSBC World Series in November.
New Zealand men’s and women’s development teams will also take part in the upcoming Central Coast Sevens tournament in New South Wales which takes place 24, 25 October.