NZ Sevens 2024-25

[Bovidae]

@Mr-Fish said in NZ Sevens 2024-25:

Would love to see Tim Mikkelson play another season or two of NPC for Waikato. What a legend.

I still remember those 3 tries in the midweek RS win over Taranaki back in 2012. He is 38 now.

https://www.allblacks.com/news/sevens-stalwarts-call-time-on-international-careers

[Bovidae]

Before the new squad is officially announced here is the latest:

2024 squad:
Leroy Carter
Che Clark
Dylan Collier
Tepaea Cook Savage
Scott Curry
Sam Dickson
Fefi Fineanganofo
Jayden Keelan
Andrew Knewstubb
Moses Leo
Ngarohi McGarvey Black
Tim Mikkelson
Sione Molia
Tone Ng Shiu
Amanaki Nicole
Lewis Ormond
Akuila Rokolisoa
Brady Rush
Roderick Solo
Payton Spencer
Xavier Tito Harris
Codemeru Vai
Kitiona Vai
Regan Ware
Joe Webber

[Bones]

@Bovidae where have Fehi and Leroy gone?

[Bovidae]

@Bones Hurricanes and Chiefs, respectively.

[Bovidae]

If Cama goes for youth I think most of the replacements will have played in the Elevate Sevens in Te Puke.

A couple of players who could be possibilities but weren't in the NZ team:

Blair Tagi-Fuimaono - a Che Clarke replacement
Stanley Solomon
Cody Nordstrom
Waisake Salabiau

[Bovidae]

⭐️ Player of the Year - Leroy Carter
⭐️ Players Player of the Year - Fehi Fineanganofo
⭐️ Defensive Player of the Year - Scott Curry
⭐️ Young Player of the Year - Xavier Tito-Harris
⭐️ Try of the Year - Joe Webber

Losing the first two winners.

[Daffy Jaffy]

The Black Ferns Sevens team for their first two tournaments of the 2024/25 season.s:
Kelly Brazier
Dhys Faleafaga
Jazmin Felix-Hotham
Sarah Hirini (c)
Justine McGregor (debut)
Jorja Miller
Manaia Nuku
Mahina Paul
Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (vc)
Theresa Setefano
Alena Saili
Kelsey Teneti
Katelyn Vahaakolo (debut)
Olive Watherston (debut)

Unavailable for selection: Michaela Blyde (leave), Shiray Kaka (injury), Tysha Ikenasio (injury), Stacey Waaka (injury)
https://www.allblacks.com/news/three-debutants-feature-in-first-black-ferns-sevens-squad-of-the-season

[Daffy Jaffy]

I noticed that Tepaea Cook-Savage appears in this video paying tribute to leaving players, then I found out why -

[Bones]

@Daffy-Jaffy so is the 3rd leg surgery a joke, or....

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Bones Maybe he is transitioning to the Black Ferns Sevens team!

[Bovidae]

I am not surprised that Cook-Savage required some sort of surgery based on his comments.

Still no mens squad named but there will have to be plenty of new faces.

[Bovidae]

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Bovidae Unavailable due to injury: Regan Ware, Amanaki Nicole, Kitiona Vai, Roderick Solo, Akuila Rokolisoa, Xavier Tito-Harris

[Bovidae]

I'm still interested to see the full contracted list as there will be a couple of other players added. Taumateine will be used as a prop. He is a no.8. Hopefully there is some more speed out wide in this team.

[Bovidae]

Oli Mathis has signed a 2-yr deal for sevens but still wants to play for the NZ U20s.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360494558/demand-oli-mathis-called-all-blacks-sevens-squad-after-breakout-npc-season

[Bones]

@Bovidae hoping to see Knewstubb carry on his vast improvement from last year, disappointing to see Ormond there - he better start to look like he belongs and not like it's a callback to when you had substantial local pool players called into teams. Picking Mathis to provide that attacking threat we're losing with Fine.

[Bovidae]

@Bones Maka has some wheels too. The tactics seem to have Collier on one flank so there needs to be one of the speedier players on the other.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Bovidae Interesting that Tepaea Cook-Savage is not on the 'Unavailable due to injury' list and this article suggests that he has left the sevens squad. If so I wonder where he is going? Also Kitiona Vai seems to have been injured for 2 years.

Waikato’s backrow-wing utility headlines All Blacks Sevens squad

The All Blacks Sevens will usher in a new era from November 30 to December 1 when the 2024/25 HSBC SVNS Series.

[Bovidae]

@Daffy-Jaffy Yeah, I did find it strange that Cook-Savage was listed amongst the others. He won't be playing for a while either way. Maybe @Steven-Harris knows more.

Kitiona Vai came back from a long injury and injured himself again doing a celebratory dive after scoring a try.

[Steven Harris]

@Bovidae he had expressed interest in returning to Northland pre the NPC and was looking to transfer on compassionate grounds but I suspect having had a solid season with Waikato he’s going to see his contract out