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All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens set for World Series return
Eight months after they won gold and silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics, the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens are primed to return to the international stage.
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In an announcement on Friday, New Zealand Rugby confirmed its two national sevens teams will feature at the Super Sevens Series and Marist Sevens in Fiji between next week and early April before returning to the World Sevens Series later next month.
The return of both teams to regular international sevens action has been made possible by confirmation that New Zealand’s border restrictions have eased to allow vaccinated Kiwis to return to the country without having to self-isolate at home or in MIQ.
The announcement comes after both the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens missed the opening four rounds of the 2021-22 World Sevens Series, two of which were held in Dubai, while the other two were hosted in the Spanish cities of Malaga and Seville.
South Africa have won all four of the men’s tournaments, while Australia have dominated the women’s events, winning all but three competitions, with the United States claiming the title in Malaga.
Both of New Zealand’s national teams will feature in all remaining World Sevens Series events throughout the rest of the season, with the All Blacks Sevens set to feature at the next men’s tournament to be held in Singapore between April 9-10.
That tournament looms as the Olympic silver medallists’ first outing on the World Sevens Series since they won the Vancouver Sevens in March 2020, the last tournament of the 2019-20 campaign before Covid cut that season short.
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Likewise, the Olympic champion Black Ferns Sevens haven’t featured on the World Sevens Series since they won the Sydney Sevens in January 2020, but that will change when they play at the Langford Sevens between April 30 and May 1.
Those tournaments, and the remaining World Sevens Series events, will serve both teams as well as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham between July and August, as well as the Sevens World Cup in Cape Town in September.
“We know they have continued to train so diligently, and it’s been hard for them to see the World Series continue without them,” New Zealand Rugby head of high performance Mike Anthony said.
“While the teams have had some internal and domestic hit outs, nothing beats international competition so these matches in Fiji will be vital to kick start their on-field performance ahead of a huge six months that features two pinnacle events.”
All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens 2022 schedule
10-11 March: Black Ferns Sevens at Super Sevens Series, Fiji
18-19 March: All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens at Super Sevens Series, Fiji
24-25 March: All Blacks Sevens at Marist Sevens, Fiji
9-10 April: All Blacks Sevens at the World Sevens Series, Signapore
16-17 April: All Black Sevens at World Sevens Series, Vancouver
30 April – 1 May: Black Ferns Sevens at World Sevens Series, Langford
20-22 May: All Black Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens at World Seven Series, Toulouse
28-29 May: All Blacks Sevens at World Sevens Series, London
29 July – 1 August: Commonwealth Games, Birmingham
27-28 August: All Black Sevens at World Sevens Series, Los Angeles
9-11 September: Sevens World Cup, Cape Town
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Comments on RugbyPass
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
2 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
6 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
2 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
6 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
6 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to comments