New-look Wellington Sevens team for Australia this weekend

UPDATE: Contrary to what we stated below, the time difference between NZ and NSW is 2 hours. Wellington's games are thus against the  Canadian Maple Leafs at 1.00pm (NZT), Manly at 3.40pm (NZT) and Tabadamu at 6.40pm (NZT).

Above: Three new players in the Wellington Sevens teams for their first tournament of the summer this weekend, from left Lester Maulolo, Telea Seumanutafa and Joseph Scheres. 

Last year as defending national provincial champions, Wellington crossed the Tasman to finish second in the Central Coast Sevens tournament, just north of Sydney.

All Blacks Sevens master coach Sir Gordon Tietjens was present and was impressed with the standard of the tournament, so much so he is sending the New Zealand Development side across to try and annex this year’s silverware.

This weekend, for various reasons, Wellington is sending almost an entire new-look squad to the Central Coast Sevens from the one that finished as runners-up last year. The tournament has also just got stronger with the inclusion of the New Zealand Development side and no fewer than four international teams as well as some powerful club sides.

Hayden Schrijvers and Sheridan Rangihuna are the two survivors from last year’s team that qualified for the Cup rounds on day two and beat local side Warringah 33-14 in their quarterfinal and Fijian side Yamacia 17-5 in their semi-final, before losing to another Fijian side, Daveta, 31-19 in the final.

Of last year’s Wellington squad that played in this tournament, Samoan Sevens duo Greg Foe and Tomasi Alosio, along with Issac O’Connor, are involved in the Wellington Lions squad preparing for the ITM Cup Championship final on Friday against Hawke’s Bay.

Murphy Taramai will be playing in this tournament – but for a different team, the New Zealand Development side.

Ambrose Curtis and Taniela Manu have been playing ITM Cup rugby for Manawatu and Northland respectively.

Former All Blacks Sevens player Belgium Tuatagaloa is unavailable and former New Zealand U20 player Matt Peni is still working his way back from a season-long injury.

Some new faces to the side for this weekend include Poneke loose forward Joseph Scheres, Tawa flanker Sam Tuala and Tawa lock/flanker Telea Seumanutafa who scored 16 tries in Wellington club rugby this year, and swift running midfielder Lester Maulolo, who played every match for Petone this year.

Pacy Upper Hutt Rams wing Max Pearson recently won the Noosa Sevens with the New Zealand Development side, along with Schrijvers and Taramai.

Wellington welcome back the vastly experienced Roy Kinikinilau.

Kinikinilau returned to Wellington earlier this year several seasons playing in Japan and slotted back into Wellington club rugby like a glove, scoring 15 tries in 10 matches and setting up several more.

As well as being a former Super Rugby player, Kinikinilau represented New Zealand between 2002-2007 on the World Rugby Sevens circuit.

On Saturday, Wellington will play Pool matches against the Canadian Maple Leafs (national team), Fijian side Tabadamu and local club team Manly.

Should they qualify for the UON Cup round on Saturday, they are likely to be up against such teams as the German national team, the Hong Kong national team, the Australian and New Zealand Development teams and defending champions Daveta from Fiji.

In August, Daveta defended their World Cup Sevens title in Ireland, winning every match and beating the Samurai 7s team in the final.

The Women’s division also looks to be just as keenly contested, with the several powerful sides entered in the Kinesio Cup division.

Wellington’s Kat Simpkins will join the New Zealand Women’s Development side, who are up against teams such as the Canadian Maple Leafs, the Australian Women’s Development side, Rugirl from Japan, the Aussie Pearls, Fijiana, Stars 7s from the USA and the New Zealand Wasps team.

Men’s day one teams and pools:

Pool A: Daveta (Fiji), Tiger Rugby (USA), Hong Kong, Ozboks (Australia)
Pool B: NZ Development, Yamacia (Fiji), Australian Development, Sunnybank (Australia)
Pool C: Aussie Thunderbolts, Redrock (Fiji), Germany, Rangataua (NZ)
Pool D: Canadian Maple Leafs, Wellington, Tabadamu (Fiji), Manly (Australia)

Day one games:

On day one on Saturday, Wellington plays the Canadian Maple Leafs at 1.00pm (NZT), Manly at 3.40pm (NZT) and Tabadamu at 6.40pm (NZT).

Visit the full day one draw here 

Wellington and NZ Men’s Development teams:

Wellington

Joseph Scheres (Poneke)
Sam Tuala (Tawa)
Telea Seumanutafa (Tawa)
Sheridan Rangihuna (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Hayden Schrijvers (Upper Hutt Rams)
Lester Maulolo (Petone)
Josh Roberston-Weepu (Wainuiomata)
Lise Soloa (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
Jordan Simpson-Hefft (Upper Hutt Rams)
Afa Fa’atau (Oriental-Rongotai)
Max Pearson (Upper Hutt Rams)
Roy Kinikinilau (Johnsonville/Oriental-Rongotai)

New Zealand Development

Dylan Collier (Waikato)
Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty)
DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau)
Luke Masirewa (Waikato)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)
Lewis Ormond (Taranaki)
Teddy Stanaway (Bay of Plenty)
Murphy Taramai (Wellington)
Isaac Te Aute (Bay of Plenty)
Isaac Te Tamaki (Waikato)
Mason Walker (Bay of Plenty)
Regan Ware (Waikato)