2019-2020 World Sevens Series
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Black Ferns 7s squad travelling to the USA for the Glendale Sevens (5 - 6 October 2019);
Shakira Baker - Waikato
Gayle Broughton - Taranaki
Kelly Brazier - Bay of Plenty
Michaela Blyde - Bay of Plenty
Theresa Fitzpatrick - Auckland
Sarah Hirini - captain - Manawatu
Risaleaana Pouri-Lane - Ta$man
Montessa Tairakena - Waikato
Terina Te Tamaki - Waikato
Ruby Tui - Bay of Plenty
Stacey Waaka - Waikato
Niall Williams - Auckland
Tenika Willison - WaikatoThe Black Ferns Sevens have named one debutant in their squad to travel to the Glendale Sevens in Colorado, USA this weekend. 19-year-old Montessa Tairakena is in line to make her Black Ferns Sevens debut, a year on from winning a sevens gold at the Youth Olympic Games.
The Black Ferns Sevens coaches start the season with an almost fully fit squad of players to pick from, with regular starters Tyla Nathan-Wong (unavailable for selection) and Portia Woodman (injured) among a small number of players out of contention for this first tournament. Co-coach Cory Sweeney said Tairakena’s selection speaks to her improvement since joining the squad after graduating from Hamilton Girls High School last year.
Stacey Waaka returns from a hand injury that sidelined her for the last two tournaments of the 2018/19 season, as does Gayle Broughton who missed the last three events last season.
Pool play will see the Black Ferns Sevens up against Japan, Russia and England.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/one-debutant-in-black-ferns-sevens-for-opening-event
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Black Ferns 7s squad for the Glendale Sevens:
1 Ruby Tui
2 Shakira Baker
3 Terina Te Tamaki
4 Niall Williams
5 Sarah Hirini – captain
6 Michaela Blyde
7 Stacey Waaka
8 Kelly Brazier
9 Gayle Broughton
10 Theresa Fitzpatrick
11 Risi Pouri-Lane
12 Montessa Tairakena
*Tenika Willison is the travelling reserve.
Co—Coach Cory Sweeney said the selection of Montessa Tairakena was exciting for the Black Ferns Sevens squad. “Montessa has been dominant at age group and national level for some time, she is one of the quickest players in New Zealand. She came into our environment at the beginning of the year and in this pre-season has grown in confidence. “She has been learning from one of the best in the world in Michaela Blyde and has shown us what we needed to see to select her, it's really exciting times for her and the team,” said Sweeney. The Black Ferns Sevens also have the benefit of Stacey Waaka and Gayle Broughton back in their game day 12.
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Pool games
Sunday, 6 October 2019
6.43am: v Japan
9.27am: v Russia
12.33pm: v EnglandAll matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports 1
https://www.allblacks.com/news/montessa-tairakena-to-debut-for-black-ferns-sevens
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Due to the RWC, this is going a bit unnoticed but after the first pool games, the BF7s also won their last pool game against
England: 36 - 0.This morning they played Ireland in the Cup QF and won 36 - 10.
The BF7s play the USA in the Cup SF at 9.23am.