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Brothers to take on SVNS world as New Zealand squads named for Singapore
After confidently proclaiming in Hong Kong China that New Zealand’s Cup final triumph “is not it” on the SVNS Series, Cody Vai will look to help the All Blacks Sevens win more silverware alongside his brother Kitiona.
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For the first time ever on the SVNS Series, the Vai brothers will wear the black jersey alongside one another when the All Blacks Sevens take the field at Singapore’s National Stadium early next month on May 3 to 5.
The Vai brothers, who are the sixth pair of brothers to represent the All Blacks Sevens, were both selected to play at the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s in Suva towards the end of March but Kitiona was not picked in the Hong Kong Sevens squad about one week later.
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“It means a lot to us,” Cody Vai told RugbyPass after winning the Hong Kong Sevens Cup final.
“Hong Kong is one of the ones that we want to turn around and (we’ll) probably go up from there until the Olympics.
“This is not it. This is part of the journey and the end journey is obviously the Olympics.”
With the SVNS Series’ regular season set to come to an end in Singapore, both Vai brothers will look to contribute to New Zealand taking some momentum in the Madrid Grand Final after being selected in the latest travelling squad.
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New Zealand Sevens have confirmed the men’s and women’s squads for the HSBC Singapore SVNS, with veteran Lewis Ormond and 2023 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Leroy Carter also being named to return.
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, who is an extremely talented playmaker with a wealth of experience on the international sevens circuit, is also back in the mix for the All Blacks Sevens.
After leading the team to Hong Kong Sevens glory earlier this month, Dylan Collier will captain the New Zealanders for the second event on the bounce.
The New Zealand men will take on arch-rivals Australia – who have included 2023 Junior Wallabies captain Teddy Wilson in their squad to debut – SVNS Series leaders Argentina and Canada.
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As for the Black Ferns Sevens, they’re looking to clinch their fourth Cup title in a row. Following a slow start to the season, which was dominated by arch-rivals Australia, the Kiwis have recovered to win finals in Vancouver, Los Angeles and Hong Kong China.
“We obviously weren’t impressed or happy with how we performed at the start of the season. We had a lot of things that we needed to work on,” Michaela Blyde told this outlet at Hong Kong Stadium.
“There are a lot of teams that are starting to develop their skillset very quickly so for us, we just wanted to stay on top of the game by being the best versions of ourselves.”
The return of Alena Saili headlines a star-studded New Zealand travelling squad that includes the likes of Blyde, Jazmin Felix-Hotham, captain Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, Stacey Waaka and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe.
Canada, Ireland and Spain will look to derail the Black Ferns Sevens’ recent dominance in pool play. The Irish are the only side other than Australia to have won a Cup final this season (Perth).
Catch up on SVNS Series highlights and exclusive original shows on RugbyPass TV HERE.
All Blacks Sevens
Leroy Carter, Dylan Collier (c), Tepaea Cook-Savage, Fehi Fineanganofo, Andrew Knewstubb, Moses Leo, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Tone Ng Shiu, Lewis Ormond, Brady Rush, Codemeru Vai, Kitiona Vai, Regan Ware
Black Ferns Sevens
Michaela Blyde, Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Tysha Ikenasio, Shiray Kaka, Tyla King, Jorja Miller, Manaia Nuku, Mahina Paul, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (c), Alena Saili, Theresa Setefano, Stacey Waaka, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
Comments on RugbyPass
Mack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
1 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
5 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
2 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
7 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
2 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
2 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
5 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
5 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
5 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
16 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
16 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
16 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
7 Go to comments