Watch: National spotlight awaits enigmatic Rongotai Sevens team
Wellington’s Rongotai College have pulled off an improbable run at the Condor Sevens, finishing runners-up in a tense final going down 21-19 to Scots College. The second placing qualifies Rongotai for the national championships on the Condor Sevens circuit, an astonishing result, propelling an overlooked side onto the national stage for the first time in 31 years.
“I believe that when you’re able to achieve the impossible and overcome the unbeatable, that is 100 per cent success right there” said Sevens coach Varani Komaisavai despite the loss in the final. The coach called the loss a ‘bittersweet moment’ as the team realised that the national stage beckons.
“We’re all excited about the tournament. Exposure and experience at the national level is good for individual progress but as for the team, like all the other teams, we want to freely express ourselves and make the College proud.”
‘Playing Sevens on a national stage effectively means you are one good tournament away from a contract. It is the best place for scouts both national & global to view ‘athletic talent’ over a short timeframe’ said 1st XV coach Dave Meaclem.
For a team that had no invitations to the Hurricanes under-18 camp, a chance to play some of the country’s best talent offers a second chance for the boys to make a name for themselves.
After a tough 1st XV season with limited success, the Rongotai philosophy hasn’t changed.
“We need to let the kids explore their world before teaching them about ours. Ultimately they just want to play code with their mates and we let them experience this.” Mecleam said.
This ‘freedom of expression’ approach may explain why this dark horse has found dramatic success in the shorter format, with the space afforded on the Sevens field giving the Rongotai athletes room to shine.
For captain DJ Taoipu, the result caps off years of hard work in 1st XV rugby.
“It’s awesome, I was speechless. I actually thought I was dreaming. But to play in a final was the best feeling ever, there’s so many great words that describe how we felt. Walking past the boys in school everyone’s still talking about it, everyone’s been excited to turn up and just recap how we made the final.”
The underdog tag has long been associated with Rongotai College, the high school that produced the Savea brothers and Ma’a Nonu. But this tag is often perpetuated too much says Meaclem.
“There is potential in every 1st XV playing group. However, I think the difference between this year’s team and the previous four years has been the balance of the team. We had team players as opposed to ‘individuals’ and collectively they worked hard for each other.
“I liken Rongotai College rugby to a volcano – it just bubbles away and then erupts.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Worst article I've read in a while. Trying to disguise a backhand slap as a compliment. The whole article is a bit weird and negative. I think South African men are emotional in general… think Clad le Clos’s father 2012 London Olympics.
2 Go to commentsIreland are going to win the world cup.
9 Go to commentsIt was the strangest result ever. Etzebeth should've been yellow card for his cynical retiring move and a penalty try. Birth second half tries by the Allblacks were fantastic and the TMO operating outside the law to rule out the first try was egregious. Yes, the boks got the win but it was through some bizarre officiating that allowed them to sneak home against 14 men that dominated them. The quieter Bok supporters know and acknowledge the Allblacks were the better and dominant side. Justifying the win because they beat a pre world cup Allblacks selection is silly.
204 Go to commentsA very English thing to do hey Courtney, blerrie kant
4 Go to commentsIt sounds like Andrew is trying to convince himself or has just lost all perspective. The team did look jaded for the last couple of games of the six nations but a few things were wrong there. Italy tackled their hearts out and made Ireland work hard for every try. Outsmarted by Scotland? Huh? Ireland got held up over the line about 4 times. Scotland did nothing on attack the whole game other than one breakaway near the end. A recharge and reset is needed which they hopefully will have had before the SA your.
9 Go to commentsIncluding SA and Argie teams was great for the quality of rugby, but middle of the night games and player travel/ jet lag make that unworkable. I think that SA in Europe and Argie building an American league with USA, Canada etc would be better long term. If Oz can't sustain Rebels then next cab off the rank should be a Japanese team. Keep regional comps to time zones, both club and test rugby. Then existing test windows for test tours plus RWC.
6 Go to commentsMisogynists have feelings too!
2 Go to commentsCrowd sizes of the URC v the Premiership must be a big factor.
1 Go to commentsWell you’ve made a proper tit of yourself, haven’t you! 😂
173 Go to commentsBen it's beyond their comprehension-
204 Go to commentsThanks Sam. Interesting read. Harder or easier for Parling to come into a completely new setup where performance was abysmal last time out? I’d suggest easier to be better but, as you suggest, will be a lot to do with how much latitude he’s granted. Hopefully all he needs. With hybrids like Holloway, Hannigan, Swinton and Leota as options at 6 we have the basics for a strong lineout. BPA returning means we have good options at 2 also with Faessler, Porecki and Uelese, although Jordan is a scrumming beast rather than a dart thrower. I’m typically a pessimist or realist but that’s never applied to the Wallabies
1 Go to commentsMad how this somehow contained absolutely zero information.
4 Go to commentsI’m looking forward to attending the Twickenham match, I don’t think it will have a bearing on the outcome of the grand prize itself but it will tell us more about each teams’ preparation and game plan. It’s hard to look past one of the big four (I’m including Canada) lifting the trophy in 2025 but sport is a curious thing, there will still be twists and turns in road ahead.
2 Go to commentsThe better side seems to be the losing side a lot these days. As far as narrative goes. Must be the big emergent culture of “participation awards” that have emerged in nanny states. ”It looked like New Zealand would take the game from there but lapses in execution let South Africa get back into the game. New Zealand’s goal kickers left five points out there, including a very make-able penalty on the stroke of half”. Sounds like a chronic problem… I wonder how the better team has lapses in concentration and execution? Or are those not important factors in the grand scheme of total performances? In 2023, the ABs at least didn’t give up a lead to lose. They just couldn’t execute to get the points and take the lead. This Baby AB result points to a choke - letting the game slip through your fingers. In the words of the great Ricky Bobby’s dad - “If you’re not 1st you’re last!” Loosely translated - if you didn’t win, you’re a loser.
10 Go to commentsWith Stuart Lancaster at the helm, Racing 92 looks more and more a mercenaries club like Toulon some years ago and they are not even performing despite all the money on offer.
4 Go to commentsCouple of things BS missed: wind was behind the Baby Blacks in the first half. Baby Boks got points from a scrum penalty in the final quarter against this ‘dominant pack’, and left three points on the park after a missed penalty.
10 Go to commentsSensible thoughts on this, Brett. Also worth considering we’ve sold 60k tickets for a game between the Rebels and the Lions next year. Got to be roughly $10m in ticket and game day revenue there.
6 Go to commentsUnsuccessful bitter ex Ulster player taking a pop shot at a side that isn't including his consistently poor mates up north
9 Go to commentsHis decision to play in France isn’t a petulant decision as this article suggests. I reckon that France is the perfect place to demonstrate that he can mix it in those battles Rassie references. It’s a good decision to try get into the squad. My personal opinion is that he wins more battles than he loses. I don’t have Rassie’s stats machine behind me, but Daymian’s is so strong moving through traffic and in the rip.
4 Go to commentsWow! Argie forward dominance is something I have not read in years….
1 Go to comments