Holmes among New Zealand squads heading to Coral Coast 7s

Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Renee Holmes has been included in the New Zealand Women’s Sevens Development squad that will compete at Coral Coast 7s.

The Black Ferns full-back, who helped her country to a third-place finish at 2025 edition of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, has been named in the 12-player squad going to Fiji this week.

At the start of the new HSBC SVNS Series season a number of Holmes’ 15-a-side teammates have pulled on a black jersey in Dubai and Cape Town. This has included Braxton Sorensen-McGee and Katelyn Vahaakolo, who had never been seen on the circuit before.

Alongside her in Sigatoka this weekend are a selection of the nations most promising young talent, including New Zealand age grade internationals Louise Blyde, Presayus Singh, Poppy Baxter, Asha James, Kiana Pohe, Asha Taumopeau-Williams and Te Arani Vulu.

There is also a place for Kavanah Lene, who has swapped the basketball court for the rugby field after numerous appearances for the Junior Tall Ferns.

The women’s team will be coached by Blair Baxter, who recently returned to Super Rugby Aupiki’s Matatu after a spell coaching the China Women’s National Sevens team.

He will be assisted by 2020 Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner, Kelly Brazier.

Sam Clarke and Bradley Locker, who each made their HSBC SVNS debut in Cape Town in December are included in the men’s Development side.

There is also a place for Michael Manson. Referred to as a ‘prime contender for the fasted man in Super Rugby’, the 24-year-old Southland and Highlanders wing is putting those credentials to the test this weekend.

In 2022 he registered a personal best time in the 100m of 10.8 seconds and was clocked hitting a top speed of 39.8 kilometres per hour in 2025.

During a one year spell in Major League Rugby, Manson scored 14 tries in 12 appearances for the Utah Warriors. There are also places for 18-year-old Kele Lusaqa, Kitiona Vai, Joy Taumateine.

The men’s side are coached by former All Blacks sevens stalwart, Scott Curry, who competed at three Olympic Games and three Commonwealth Games. He is assisted by former Maori All Black, Zar Lawrence.

New Zealand Women’s Sevens Development squad

Poppy Baxter, Louise Blyde, Renee Holmes, Asha James, Kavanah Lene, Danii Mafoe, Justine McGregor, Kiana Pohe, Nagaawaimarino Simpkins, Presayus Singh, Asha Taumopeau-Williams, Te Arani Vulu

New Zealand Men’s Sevens Development squad

Nathaniel Barry, Sam Clarke, Anru Erasmus, Rui Farrant, Scott Gregory, Kele Lasaqa, Michael Manson, Brayden Neilson, Aidan Spratley, Joey Taumateine, Bradley Tocker, Kitiona Vai