The All Black Sevens team will be in action for the first time since March 2020 when they take part in the Singapore Sevens next weekend. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
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The All Black Sevens team will be in action for the first time since March 2020 when they take part in the Singapore Sevens next weekend.
The All Black Sevens team will be in action for the first time since March 2020 when they take part in the Singapore Sevens next weekend. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
The All Black Sevens team will be in action for the first time since winning the Vancouver Sevens in March 2020 when they take part in the Singapore Sevens next weekend.
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According to the Rugbypass website, coach Clark Laidlaw named a squad featuring five debutants to travel to Singapore this weekend ahead of the tournament.
They will compete at the Singapore Sevens next Saturday and Sunday before travelling to Canada the following week to compete at the Vancouver Sevens.
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The debutants are halfback Leroy Carter, North Harbour flyer Moses Leo, teenager Caleb Tangitau, Auckland prospect Kitiona Vai, and Brady Rush, the son of All Blacks Sevens legend Eric Rush.
The All Blacks Sevens have been one of the most successful international sevens teams in the world, winning the title on 12 occasions.
They lifted the Sevens Rugby World Cup title three times, in 2001, 2013 and 2018, plus they have won four Commonwealth Games gold medals and at the Tokyo Olympics they picked up a silver medal.
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Their appearance at National Stadium comes after 25 months of absence from the global sevens circuit due to border closures and travel restrictions brought on by the outbreak of Covid-19.
“They have been with us a couple of years, so they really deserve this opportunity and are ready for it,” Laidlaw said.
“Caleb has only been with us a couple of months, but he has done really well these last couple of weeks and has genuine pace.
“Leroy is a professional, he’s diligent with his work and can play multiple positions, we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes,” Laidlaw added.
The squad also features seven players – Sam Dickson, Dylan Collier, Andrew Knewstubb, Tone Ng Shiu, Akuila Rokolisoa, Regan Ware and Joe Webber – who finished second at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Dickson will assume the captaincy role in the absence of Tim Mikkelson and Scott Curry, both of whom are unavailable for the tournament.
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All Blacks Sevens squad for Singapore Sevens
Leroy Carter*, Dylan Collier, Sam Dickson (captain), Trael Joass, Andrew Knewstubb, Moses Leo*, Tone Ng Shiu, Akuila Rokolisoa, Brady Rush*, Caleb Tangitau, Kitiona Vai, Regan Ware, Joe Webber
* denotes on debut
