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Niall Guthrie opens up on ‘bittersweet emotions’ at last sevens event
For Black Ferns Sevens veteran Niall Guthrie, this is it. Guthrie will play her final match on the World Series in Toulouse this weekend after signing a deal with an Australian rugby league club.
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As the adage goes, all good things much come to an end.
Guthrie has been a mainstay of the champion Black Ferns on the sevens circuit for a number of years, but the 35-year-old is set to take on a new challenge after signing with the Gold Coast Titians.
Just like her brother, legendary All Black Sonny Bill Williams, Guthrie will officially become a dual-code athlete at the end of this year’s World Series campaign.
After switching from touch football to sevens, Guthrie made her debut for the Black Ferns Sevens in 2015 – and has contributed to some legendary wins and achievements in the eight years since.
Guthrie is a Commonwealth Games, World Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens champion – and an Olympic medallist, as well.
But again, all good things must come to an end – after an illustrious career in black, which includes more than 160 matches on the World Series, Guthrie is moving on.
Speaking with RugbyPass’ Lucy Lomax on day one of the Toulouse Sevens, Guthrie described the event as a “bittersweet” occasion.
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“It’s a little bit surreal,” Williams told RugbyPass. “Probably the last six months since the World Series started I was kind of like, ‘Oh that’s ages away.’
“But to finally be here, it’s probably a bit of bittersweet emotions because I’m leaving but sweet because I was lucky enough to be part of this journey.
“I grew up around league, my whole family’s like really hearty league fans. I just thought, ‘Why not?’ You only get to play for so long in your life and you’re long time retired.
“I thought while I’ve still got a little bit of running these legs, why not go get in an uncomfortable environment and give it a go.
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“I go to Australia a lot because half my family live in Sydney so it won’t be too much of a difference. I guess I’m lucky that I’m going to the Gold Coast, so a lot of sunshine and beaches.
“The best part about it is that I’m only a three hour plane ride from home.”
New Zealand were beaten by rivals Australia in the Dubai Sevens in December, but the Black Ferns have proven unbeatable since.
After winning the Cape Town leg a week later, New Zealand won another four tournaments this season – and they could potentially make it six from seven in Toulouse.
But win or lose in La Ville Rose, the Black Ferns Sevens have etched their names into history.
They’re World Series champions once again.
Having beaten Poland and the United States on day one, New Zealand clinched their first World Series crown since the 2019/20 season.
Guthrie will go out a world champion.
“Being able to have a squad of 21, 22 who can step in at any time when we have injuries or we need other girls to have gametime and they step up,” she added.
“I think a lot of people are like, ‘Where are you getting all these girls from?’ It’s a credit to the team, the full squad, even the girls back home.
“Our competition back home inhouse is really strong.”
The Black Ferns Sevens will look to make it three wins from as many starts when they take on Canada in their final match of pool play in Toulouse on Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments