Rhodes Featherstone described Sevens as a “marathon with contact,” an apt description of the pathway taken by the prop to the All Blacks Sevens team.
Rising star Codemeru Vai realised a childhood dream on Friday as he made his international debut for the All Blacks Sevens in Hong Kong.
All Blacks Sevens stalwart Kurt Baker will run out in the black jersey for the 50th time in Los Angeles next weekend, named in the 13-strong team for the World Series tournament.
Neither of New Zealand's two national sevens teams, the All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens, will participate in next month's World Sevens Series tournaments in Spain.