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Cody Vai's journey to All Blacks Sevens debut at 18 to making the NZ U20 squad
Cody Vai was only two years old when Tim Mikkelson made his debut for the All Black Sevens in 2007. Last night when Mikkelson helped New Zealand to a 14th World Series title there was no one cheering more loudly than Vai.
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An unprecedented injury crisis prior to the Hong Kong Sevens in April ruled out Andrew Knewstubb, Moses Leo, Payton Spencer, Roderick Solo, Sam Dickson, Scott Curry, Tim Mikkelson, Tone Ng Shiu, Joe Webber, and Regan Ware handing Vai his international debut at 18.
No one was more accommodating to the rookie than Mikkelson who celebrated his 100th tournament in Toulouse.
‘Tim is a legend. I’ve grown up watching him. To be training with him is surreal. Watching the finals was scary but I had faith in the boys,” Vai told RugbyPass.
In the semi-final against France, Mikkelson made two heroic plays which won the game and secured World Series honours. Down 14-12 the Waikato winger created a try for Brady Rush with a chest pass in the presence of two defenders.
Moments later he snatched an intercept with the last play of the game facing a four-on-one overlap, and a slender 19-14 advantage, was terminal for the hosts’ prospects.
“Far, how did he do that? It was amazing,” Vai marvelled.
“The All Black Sevens are like a family. When I got the call up the older boys encouraged me to play my game and be myself.”
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“Roderick Solo is my flatmate with a few of the other boys. We have movie nights and are tight-knit. He’ll be going on about his winning try forever which will be annoying, but honestly, it’s so cool.”
New Zealand beat Argentina 24-19 in the Cup final with Solo scoring the winning try with the first touch in extra-time. They trailed 19-7 at half-time.
Vai was training with the Chiefs Under 20s when he was summoned to National Sevens duty. He will be fully contracted next year. His debut was a bolt from the blue in Hong Kong.
“I was supposed to be 14th man but when Moses Leo got injured, I got my shot,” he said.
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“Hong Kong was amazing, so many big buildings, crazy busy, and the atmosphere was unreal.
“I roomed with Dylan Collier who was nice and gave me lots of advice. We Polly boys tend to stick tight. Faith and family are everything to us.
“In sevens I play on the wing and back my pace. The more game time I got, the more confident I felt.”
In Hong Kong, Vai took part in every match and scored a vital try in the 24-17 victory against Fiji in the Cup final. A week later he was a strong contributor at the Singapore Sevens helping New Zealand capture that title for the first time in 18 years.
He is unbeaten in a dozen matches with the All Black Sevens and has scored four tries.
“Singapore was really hot. Thank goodness for the AC. The boys had to dig deep to get the job done.”
It was perhaps inventible that Vai would follow a rugby pathway. His father Kitiona Nanai Vai was a Manu Samoa international who played in the famous 1991 World Cup team.
His brother Melani Nanai is a flying winger who played 64 games for the Blues while one of Cody’s flatmates is his All Black Sevens brother Kitiona Vai.
His sister Corina played in the Farah Palmer Cup for the Auckland Storm.
Cody attended De La Salle College in Auckland and made the First XV in Year 11. He took a scholarship to St Peter’s Cambridge in 2021, a decision he credits with providing greater opportunities and helping him get fitter with access to a nearby gym every day.
At centre, Vai helped St Peter’s to credible third and fifth places finishes in the fiercely competitive Central North Island Competition.
He made the New Zealand Secondary Schools rep side as a winger and started in their 27-25 win over the Maori Under 18s in Hamilton.
Four days later he came off the bench and scored two tries in a commanding 67-15 thrashing of Fiji Schools. Vai won Allan Family Trophy for Victor Ludorum Sportsman of the Year at St Peter’s.
“St Peter’s was a big school. I needed a bike to get around. The 1A competition was harder physically but CNI was good too, and my schoolwork was better at St Peter’s.”
Vai has been named in the New Zealand Under 20s wider training group, coached by All Black Sevens mentor Clark Laidlaw, for the upcoming two-test series against Australia.
The ‘Baby Blacks’ go into this camp this weekend ahead of fixtures on May 29 and June 4 in Wellington.
“I know a few of the boys in the team especially those from Sevens. I can’t wait to hook up with the boys. Aussie will be tough, but we’ve got some awesome talent.”
New Zealand has won the World Under 20 Championships six times since its inception in 2008 with its most recent success in 2017. France is twice reigning champions.
Eight players will be cut from the existing squad of 38 for the World Championships in South Africa in June and July.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
9 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
3 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
3 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
1 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
2 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
9 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
3 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
9 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
9 Go to commentsWowee!
9 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
9 Go to commentsJust remember: He is not a winger. Took Ian Foster 2 years to figure that out.
9 Go to commentsExcellent article, Nick. We (your RP colleague Brett McKay and my 8/9 Combo cohost), are going to have LSL on our podcast later this month. He has shown consistent excellence as a leader and lock. I’ll chat with you offline about a line of questioning if you have time. H
9 Go to commentsSo no Irish fan or journalist suggested JGP was as good as DuPont. Then even the guy who supposedly did is from Wales and said JGP would be the best around if it was t for DuPont. Right, so what is this story about again
17 Go to commentsGreat news for the URC. Leinster will always attract top talent. Another huge name added to their stable
9 Go to commentsWhen you look at Australian Rugby you can see the talent coming through. There’s young players everywhere. They have the makings of a strong Wallaby team for years to come if they trust their young players. There might be some short term pain but after 30 or 40 caps together a Wallaby group comprised of the current youngsters will really be top class. It seems like the threat of going under has focused the Rebels both on and off the field. They are having a go like a team with nothing to lose and winning back the fans whilst silencing their detractors. Its funny how an existential threat can spur a team on to new highs. Taking rugby back to the communities will help to build support and create a true team for the community and one rooted into it. It may just work and save the Rebels and if they can get the financing then maybe let them have a go at reinvention. I do feel though that Australian Rugby has one too many franchises. If the Rebels die all these solid young players get infused into other franchises who will have more money, depth and resources. It would make the Australian Rugby franchises so much stronger and they may come to achieve parity with the best franchises from NZ. Super Rugby is throwing up some really entertaining games. Not too much good defence but certainly high pace, try scoring magic on display. Melbourne are no exception to this.
9 Go to commentsMost articles (none Irish) said JGP might be second best globally (after Dupont). Anyway, he is playing great. Different player but maybe he is equal to Dupont in how he is reading games now. He is also running a lot of Dupont support lines and scoring a lot of tries. Dupont is best scrum half but JGP in next pack.
17 Go to comments