New Zealand Under 18 Sevens teams named for World School Sevens

New Zealand Rugby announced today the selection of the New Zealand Under 18 Boys and Girls Sevens teams alongside the New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura (Boys) and Ngā Māreikura (Girls) teams competing at the 2022 World School Sevens in Auckland from 17 to 18 December.

PJ Williams, NZR’s High Performance Talent Identification Manager said selectors were excited by the abundance of talent available for the four New Zealand representative sides.

“It’s been a challenging task selecting the teams ahead of the World School Sevens, all schools and provinces across New Zealand had the opportunity to nominate players for consideration. The selection process is robust, selectors viewed hours and hours of regional tournaments, including the the fantastic Condor Sevens over the weekend. There is an abundance of talented players out there and we are impressed with the skill level and professionalism these athletes are showing.”

The New Zealand Under 18 Boys team will be coached by All Blacks Sevens Assistant Coach Euan Mackintosh, who is looking forward to the opportunity.  

“The players named in the fourteen should be very proud of what they have achieved, they have done exceptionally well to have been selected in this squad as there is a huge amount of talent out there. We are looking forward to providing them with an opportunity to play to their potential and show us what they can do as a group.”

Former Black Fern and Black Ferns Sevens player Kristina Sue will take the helm of the New Zealand Under 18 Girls team said the added bonus of Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt available to play, will be a great benefit for the team both on and off the field and is excited to see what the group can achieve.

“Tony and I are both excited to work with this talented young group of emerging athletes. There has been a robust selection process that has allowed over 300 schools an opportunity to nominate players with selectors present at the Condor National Sevens and regional tournaments during the year.”

“We are fortunate to have current Black Fern Sylvia Brunt available for selection. She will be hugely influential in terms of what she offers as a player and a role model. We are excited to see what the girls will achieve.”

The New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura (Boys) coach Karna Luke said he hopes to inspire the young Māori tāne to express themselves.

“We are thrilled and excited to be able to assemble Ngā Whatukura Māori Tāne who will be privileged to represent their whakapapa, iwi, hapu and whānau across Aotearoa through whakawhanaungatanga with our boys and girls programmes.

“As a whānau, our hope is to inspire, grow and develop these Māori Tāne to express themselves as connected proud contributors, to the game and communities in which they participate.”

Matatū first five-eighth Terauoriwa Gapper who will be coaching the New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Māreikura (Girls) team said they believe the group embodies their kaupapa both on and off the field.

“We are looking forward to connecting with this exciting group of girls next week. The amount of raw talent, athleticism and flair that was showcased at Condors was inspiring. We have selected a quality mix of girls who we believe embody our kaupapa not only on but off the field as well. I truly can't wait to see what this amazing group of Māreikura can achieve.”

New Zealand Under 18 Boys Sevens Team
Andrew Smith (Hautapu Sports Club)
Cody Vai (St Peter's School Cambridge)
Fletcher Carpenter (Palmerston North Boys' High School)
Grady Forbes (Tauranga Sports Rugby Club)
Isaac Hutchinson (Marist Albion)
King Maxwell (Gisborne Boys' High School)
Malachi Wrampling-Alec (Te Awamutu Rugby Sports & Rec Club)
Maloni Kunawave (Rotorua Boys' High School)
Micah Fale (St John's College, Hamilton)
Riley Williams (Waitemata Rugby Football Club)
Star Sami (Kelston Boys’ High School)
Tali Ioasa (Hastings Boys' High School)
Waisake Salabiau (Rotorua Boys' High School)
Xavier Tito-Harris (Kelston Boys' High School)

Management:
Euan MacIntosh  (Head Coach – All Black Sevens)
Andrew Knewstubb (Assistant Coach – All Black Sevens)
Dean Simpson (Team Manager – Wellington)
Scott Joblin (Trainer – Bay of Plenty)
Rachel Lambert (Physio – All Black Sevens)
Mark Roberts (Analyst – Waikato)

Note: No players from Hamilton Boys’ Tour were considered for selection

New Zealand Under 18 Girls Sevens Team
Abby Lockhart  (Auckland Marist Rugby Football Club)
Arene Landon-Lane (St Mary's College)
Arlia MacCarthy (Mount Albert Grammar School)
Justine McGregor (St Mary's College)
Kaane Maiava (Mount Albert Grammar School)
Le'Oxeayn Maiu'u (Mount Albert Grammar School)
Maia Davis (MANUKURA)
Manea Waaka (Marian College)
Nia Sutherland (MANUKURA)
Pounamu Wharehinga (MANUKURA)
Shyrah Tuliau-Tua'a  (Sacred Heart College, Hamilton)
Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt (Ponsonby Rugby Football Club)
Taufa Bason (Fielding High School)
Zahnia Papali'i (Mount Albert Grammar School)

Management:
Kristina Sue (Head Coach – MANUKURA)
Tony Christie (Assistant Coach – Matatū & Canterbury FPC)
Tangi Waikari (Team Manager – Wellington)
Tasmyn Jackson (Trainer – Bay of Plenty)
Lauren MacDonald (Physio – Northland)
Mark Roberts (Analyst – Waikato)

New Zealand Māori Under 18 Ngā Whatukura (Boys) Sevens
Bryson Crawford-Pakoti (Hastings Boys’ High School, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga)
Dallas Rata-Makene (Hamilton Boys’ High School, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Raukawa)
Jai Tamati (Rotorua Boys’ High School, Ngāti Maniapoto)
Josh Brunger (Whanganui Collegiate School, Ngāti Apa)
Kees Van der Heyden (Rotorua Boys’ High School, Ngāti Maniapoto)
Kyan Rangitutia (St Johns College, Hamilton, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngā Puhi)
Luca Fuller (Kings College, Auckland, Ngā Rauru)
Piripi Tapsell (Tauranga Boys’ College, Ngāti Porou)
Stanley Solomon (Wellington College, Ngāi Tahu)
Tadgh O’Connor (Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Ngāti Hauiti)
Tayne Harvey (Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Ngāti Raukawa)
Te Hamana Te Aute (Rotorua Boys’ High School, Te Arawa)
Toby Bell (Kerikeri High School, Ngā Puhi)
Xavi Taele (St Kentigern College, Ngāi Tahu)

Ngā Kaiako (Management)
Luke Crawford (NZ Rugby Kaumātua - Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Porou)
Patariki Edwards (NZ Rugby Rangatira - Ngāti Raukawa, Whakatōhea) 
Kahu Carey (NZ Rugby Rangatira - Rangitāne, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō) 
Karna Luke (Kaiako Matua - Ngā Ruahine, Taranaki)
Brendan Nolan (Kaiako Poumua - Ngāi Tahu, Te Ātiawa) 
Jackson Willison (Kaiako Poumuri - Waikato) 
Chris Kumeroa (Kaiwhakarite - Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi)
Kahurangi Falaoa (Pou Tikanga - Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Pūkeko. Niue)
Kara Thomas (Kairomiromi - Ngāruahine)
Duncan Cameron (Kaiwhakahaere Matua - Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Whānau a Apanui)

Note: Tai Cribb (Hamilton Marist Old Boys, Te Arawa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui) unavialble for selection due to injury. 

New Zealand Under18 Māori Ngā Māreikura (Girls) Sevens
Lucy Mahuika (Nayland College, Ngāi Tahu)
Penelope Taulafo (St Andrews College , Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Ngati Hāuiti)
Keighley Simpson (Sacred Heart Girls' College New Plymouth, Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Maru)
Holly Williams (Westlake Girls High School, Ngāti Maru (Hauraki), Ngāti Paoa)
Alizay Grant (MANUKURA, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki)
Leiana Marshall-Barton (MANUKURA, Tainui)
Mia Maraku (MANUKURA, Ngāti Tūwharetoa (ki Taupō))
Amelia Pasikala (Hastings Rugby & Sports Club, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa)
Aaliyah Konui (Hamilton Girls High School, Tainui/Ngāpuhi/Tūwharetoa)
Anyis Drossaerts-Lake (MANUKURA, Ngā Puhi,Ngāti Hine,Ngāti Maniapoto)
Ashlee Forsyth (Buller High School, Tūhoe, Whakatōhea)
Hinemaringi Scott (University of Waikato RFC, Tūhoe, Te Ātiawa)
Sienna Stowers-Smith (St Andrew’s College, Ngāti Tama)
Bailey Nightingale (St Mary’s College, Wellington, Tainui, Ngāpuhi)

Ngā Kaiako (Management)
Luke Crawford (NZ Rugby Kaumātua - Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Porou)
Patariki Edwards (NZ Rugby Rangatira - Ngāti Raukawa, Whakatōhea) 
Kahu Carey (NZ Rugby Rangatira - Rangitāne, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō)
Terauoriwa Gapper (Kaiako Whaea - Ngā Puhi)
La Winiata (Kaiako Poumua - Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Ruapani)
Tuturangi Nepe-Apatu (Kaiako Poumuri - Ngāti Kahungungu, Muaupoko)
Norm Bell (Kaiwhakarite - Ngāi Tahu)
Riwa Keno (Pou Tikanga - Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui)
Kara Thomas (Kairomiromi - Ngāruahine) 
Letticia Jones (Kaiwhakahaere Whaea - Te Arawa)

The New Zealand Under 18 Boys and Girls teams will assemble on Monday 12 December, while the New Zealand Under 18 Māori will assemble on Tuesday 13 December prior to the World School Sevens kicking off on Saturday 17 December.

Tournament Details:
World School Sevens
17 – 18 December, Pakuranga Rugby Club, Auckland
Tickets: https://worldschoolsevens.flicket.co.nz/
Live on Sky Sport