National Sevens this weekend

This weekend’s National Sevens will feature 16 provincial unions who qualified at the Northern, Central and Southern Regional Qualifiers held at the start of December.

Sixteen men’s and 12 women’s teams will vie for top honours at the Tauranga Domain.

In the men’s division, Tasman, Wellington and Counties Manukau topped their respective qualifying events, with defending champions Waikato finishing second in their Northern Region tournament.

South Canterbury and Wairarapa Bush join the 14 NPC Unions to round out the 2018 men's competitors.

Women’s defending champions, Manawatu, led the charge in the Central Region qualifier with Farah Palmer Cup Premiership champions Canterbury winning the Southern event and Farah Palmer Cup mystery team Auckland topping the Northern tournament.

The National Sevens not only sees silverware handed out to the country’s top sevens Unions, it is also a key talent identification event for players eyeing higher honours and New Zealand Sevens selectors will be on hand to identify players for selection into the 2019 development teams.

Men’s Teams:

Northern Region
Counties Manukau
Waikato
Bay of Plenty
Auckland
North Harbour
Northland

Central Region
Wellington
Hawke’s Bay
Manawatu
Taranaki
Wairarapa Bush

Southern Region
Tasman
Otago
Canterbury
South Canterbury 
Southland

Women’s Teams:

Northern Region
Auckland
Waikato
Bay of Plenty
Counties Manukau
North Harbour

Central Region
Manawatu
Wellington
Hawke’s Bay
Taranaki

Southern Region
Canterbury
Otago
Tasman

Pools and draw:

There is no such thing as an easy pool and that is certainly the case at the TECT National Sevens with strong teams spread across the four men’s and three women’s pools.
The 45th winner of the men’s national title will be crowned on Sunday with defending champion Waikato and perennial performers Counties Manukau among the favourites.

Defending men’s champions, Waikato will come up against the tournament’s most successful team, Auckland in pool play, while last tournament’s semi-finalists Wellington and Tasman are both in Pool C.

Hosts Bay of Plenty, are searching for their first title and will come up against Taranaki, Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay on Day One, while 2016 and 2017 champions Counties Manukau head Pool A after a dominant performance at their regional qualifiers.

In the women’s draw Manawatu will be looking for their fifth title after their dramatic 17-15 win over Waikato at the last Nationals. They are in Pool B alongside 2017 winners Counties Manukau.

Pools:

Men
Pool A: Counties Manukau, Manawatu, North Harbour, Wairarapa Bush
Pool B: Waikato, Auckland, Otago, Southland
Pool C: Wellington, Tasman, Northland, South Canterbury
Pool D: Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Canterbury

Women
Pool A: Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, Taranaki
Pool B: Manawatu, Counties Manukau, Wellington, North Harbour
Pool C: Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Tasman

View the draw here