The 19-year-old starring in the All Blacks Sevens’ resurgence

The All Blacks Sevens are a much-improved team compared to the lacklustre side that finished a worst-ever seventh in the 2024/2025 SVNS league standings.

They failed to win a single cup title last season but improved immediately in the 2025/2026 competition, winning the cup in Dubai on their first outing.

New Zealand did not add silverware in Cape Town, Singapore, or Perth, but there are signs of improvement and greater depth, with only eight points separating them from Fiji at the top of the SVNS league standings.

Bay of Plenty 19-year-old Kele Lasaqa has turned heads with his cunning and ability to create something out of nothing. In his debut in Dubai, he made a crucial try-saving tackle on Ben Dalton late in a pool game against Australia, helping secure a 21-17 win.

In Singapore, the All Blacks Sevens lost their first group game to France 19-12. Down 20-19 against Argentina with 15 seconds left in their next game, a place in the semi-finals was in jeopardy. Lasaqa soared to take the restart, brushed aside tacklers, and dashed 65 metres to the line.

New Zealand faced a similar challenge in Perth but beat France 26-21 in their final group game to reach the semis. Lasaqa also scored a try in that match.

“I want to nail my role, which is to strike off set pieces and express myself when chances come,” Lasaqa told RugbyPass.

“The try against Argentina was a cool moment. We were expecting a long restart, so Tone Ng Shiu and I set up a pod. When they went short, I went for it, and a gap opened. Once I was in space, I knew I was going to make it.”

There is a striking confidence about the softly spoken Fijian whose parents moved to Tauranga in 2003. His cousin is Highlanders flanker Veveni Lasaqa.

Kele made a name for himself while at Tauranga Boys’ College. In 2024, the “Titans” won the prestigious Super 8 title for the first time since 1999, when Joe Schmidt was head coach and future All Black Tanerau Latimer was on the rise.

In the final, Tauranga whitewashed 15-time champions since 1998 and eventual National Top Four winners Hamilton Boys’ High School 37-0.  Lasaqa poached an intercept try and was more lively than Danny Zuko as Tauranga stormed to their largest victory over Hamilton Boys’, which was previously 26-6 in 1987. Their largest score against Hamilton was 38-27 in 1994.

“Tauranga Boys’ was where I decided to take rugby seriously. I’d rather play rugby than work,” Lasaqa laughed.

“The team that won Super 8 had been together since Year 9. We won the National Under-15 tournament, had great coaches, and the New Zealand Schools eight, nine, and ten: Aidan Spratley, Charlie Sinton, and Mason Verster.

“Charlie is one of my best friends. He is someone with a lot of knowledge and demands a lot of me, even when I’m down.

“My favourite game at TBC was when we beat Rotorua Boys’ 57-14. My cousin was playing hooker for Rotorua.”

Unfortunately for Tauranga, Rotorua managed a 20-20 draw in a National Top Four qualifying game. Because “Raukura” scored the first try, they moved on to the next round.

“We were gutted about that game. We’d beaten Hamilton, who won Nationals twice, but we got a bit comfortable. It was a tough lesson to learn,” Lasaqa said.

Luckily for Lasaqa and Tauranga, they got a shot at redemption at the Condors Sevens, and the Titans delivered by winning the national title for the first time. In pool play, Tauranga beat Marlborough Boys’ College 34-0, Francis Douglas Memorial College 31-7, and St Peter’s College (Auckland) 48-5. They then beat St Bede’s College 32-7 in the quarter-finals, Rotorua Boys’ High 40-14 in the semis, and Sacred Heart College 36-7 in the final. Thanks to his quick footwork, creativity and prolific scoring, Lasaqa was named player of the tournament.

“That was special. Full credit to the boys. We were pretty motivated after the fifteens’ season to win a national title.”

Lasaqa was quickly promoted to the New Zealand Under-18 Sevens team and the Bay of Plenty Steamers in the NPC, where he’s scored five tries in six games.

Lasaqa will aim to keep up his form at the Vancouver Sevens this weekend. Argentina are four-time defending champions, while the All Blacks Sevens last won the event in 2020.

The All Blacks Sevens welcome back livewire Roderick Solo after a two-year absence due to a gruelling ACL injury and Dylan Collier for his 64th SVNS tournament. Rookies Joey Taumateine and Sam Clarke also join the squad.

Coach Tomasi Cama is absent because his visa application could not be processed in time. Assistant coach Willie Rickards will serve as head coach for the two tournaments, with Scott Curry as his assistant. The All Blacks Sevens, with head-to-head records in brackets, are grouped with Spain (19-6), Great Britain (11-3), and three-time Vancouver champions South Africa (67-41).

“It’s good to have some experience back. It feels like we’re well prepared and improving all the time,” Lasaqa said.

“I think Fiji are the toughest team. They’re so unpredictable.”