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More than a game: All Blacks Sevens star’s class act for two young fans
Black Ferns Sevens star Shiray Kaka made a young fan’s day last month with a gesture that was never intended to make headlines. After winning the Cup final at the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens, Kaka threw her winners up to a supporter.
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Kaka, who was recognised as the tournament’s best and fairest after beating the United States of America in that decider, had agreed with the child that if they caught the medal then it was theirs to keep.
The kid wearing an Australia jersey held onto the winner’s medallion and presumably took it home. It was an incredible gesture from the Olympic gold medallist but one that was never supposed to receive public attention.
“How did you hear that,” Kaka asked this reporter when questioned about the moment. New Zealand’s Kelsey Teneti had done something similar after winning the Los Angeles final earlier in the season, according to someone on Facebook.
All Blacks Sevens ace Tone Ng Shiu is the latest Kiwi to give back to SVNS fans with a meaningful gesture, and then remain humble when asked about the moment later on. Supporters often ask for selfies or autographs but Ng Shiu went above and beyond for two kids.
“There were two kids begging to get their two jerseys signed from the boys so we made an effort to bring the jersey back and try and give it back to the kids,” Ng Shiu told RugbyPass.
“Just a little something to remember because when we were young we looked up to a lot of people so hopefully it made their day, their weekend.”
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Ng Shiu ran past this writer with jerseys in hand on day two in Singapore. The New Zealander had the shirts signed by the squad before returning back to the stands at the National Stadium.
While Ng Shiu couldn’t find the kids himself, staff at SVNS Singapore later identified the kids and returned the shirts which were now covered in signatures from their rugby heroes.
But much like Kaka’s moment of generosity at Hong Kong Stadium, Ng Shiu didn’t hype up the class act too much when asked about it but rather spoke about the importance of giving back and the meaning behind it.
“It’s kind of our motto, ‘inspiring by how we see, hear and feel.’ Just making a big impact on the younger generation,” Ng Shiu added. “Just keep growing sevens and making sure that we are a good influence for the next generation.”
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Ng Shiu is a class act both off and on the field with the New Zealander playing a starring role in the All Blacks Sevens’ second consecutive Cup final triumph of the season. After winning the Hong Kong Sevens, the Kiwis backed that effort up in Singapore.
The All Blacks Sevens overcame a tough quarter-final challenge on Saturday by beating the USA and continued to grow in confidence and skill across the weekend. New Zealand put in a masterful performance against rivals Australia in the semis.
It was all building to the final match of the tournament with the Kiwis coming up against the fighting Irish in the decider. Ireland had beaten the All Blacks Sevens for the first time on the Series back in December’s SVNS Cape Town.
Leroy Carter, Fehi Fineanganofo and Dylan Collier all got on the scoresheet to help build a slender lead, and the men in black were good enough to survive a last-ditch effort to steal it from the Irish.
The awareness 🤩
The finish 😱#HSBCCVNS | #HSBCSVNSSGP | @nz_sevens https://t.co/DV8Q49RtyP pic.twitter.com/gIOfW6LBup
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) May 5, 2024
Ireland were awarded an attacking scrum with about 30 seconds to play, and while they risked breaking the line a couple of times, a penalty at the breakdown in favour of the Kiwis was the final say.
Andrew Knewstubb kicked off the celebrations by booting the ball high into the stands.
“Me and my mate Andrew Knewstubb, we’re sick of sitting home and watching all the boys win so when we came back we made it a goal for ourselves to make sure that we didn’t do all that hard work for nothing,” New Zealand’s Tone Ng Shiu told this website.
“It’s good to be winning and to be with the boys. It’s so good.
“We just focus on ourselves, you know? The here and now,” he added.
“We won Singapore. Obviously, we’ll acknowledge (League winners Argentina) because they’ve been the most consistent in the Series but we’re just enjoying the moment.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Adding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
2 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> 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.
4 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.
2 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 💙
7 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…
4 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.
7 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 comments