New Zealand Sevens teams named for Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town

The All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens squads set to compete for the Rugby World Cup Sevens title in South Africa early next month have been named today.

Both teams are defending back-to-back champions and depart for Cape Town today, the men fresh from victory at the Los Angeles Sevens in USA, and the women from their training base in Tauranga.

The Rugby World Cup Sevens is played in a knockout format, with both teams just playing one must-win match in a bid to advance to the quarter-finals. A total of 24 men’s teams and 16 women's teams will take the field at Cape Town Stadium.

New Zealand Rugby High Performance Manager Mike Anthony wished the team’s luck.

“Both teams have a proud history at Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments and will both have been targeting this event in their calendars.

“Playing in the cauldron of 50,000 South African fans will be a momentous occasion and we look forward to seeing them represent themselves, their families and New Zealand with pride.”

All Blacks Sevens team (in brackets denotes age, provincial union, caps)
Kurt Baker (33, Hawke’s Bay, 50)
Dylan Colllier (31, (Waikato, 46)
Scott Curry (34, Bay of Plenty, 60)
Sam Dickson (32, Canterbury, 63) – co-captain
Moses Leo (25, North Harbour, 4)
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black (26, Ngati Porou East Coast, 18)
Sione Molia (28, Counties Manukau, 44) – co-captain
Tone Ng Shiu (28, Tasman, 32)
Amanaki Nicole (30, Southland, 12)
Lewis Ormond (28, Taranaki, 13)
Akuila Rokolisoa (28, Counties Manukau, 19)
Brady Rush (23, Northland, 4)
Caleb Tangitau (19, Auckland, 6)
Regan Ware (28, Tasman, 46)
Unavailable due to injury: Tim Mikkelson, Rhodes Featherstone, Kitiona Vai, Joe Webber, Leroy Carter, Roderick Solo, Che Clark, Andrew Knewstubb

On their way to victory at the Los Angeles Sevens over the weekend, the All Blacks Sevens lost four players to an already sizeable injury tally.

Black Ferns Sevens team (in brackets denotes age, provincial union, caps)
Michaela Blyde (26, Bay of Plenty, 35)
Kelly Brazier (32, Bay of Plenty, 40)
Stacey Fluhler (26, Bay of Plenty, 29)
Sarah Hirini (29, Manawatu, 49) - captain
Jazmin Felix-Hotham (22, Waikato, 4)
Shiray Kaka (27, Waikato, 17)
Jorja Miller (18, Canterbury, debut)
Risaleeana Pouri-Lane (22, Bay of Plenty, 9)
Alena Saili (23, Bay of Plenty, 22)
Niall Williams (34, Auckland, 31)
Tenika Willison (24, Waikato, 15)
Portia Woodman (31, Northland, 38)
Travelling reserves: Manaia Nuku and Mahina Paul
Unavailable due to injury: Tyla Nathan Wong, Shakira Baker, Tysha Ikenasio

The Black Ferns Sevens will celebrate two significant milestones at the Rugby World Cup Sevens with Canterbury teen Jorja Miller set to make her international debut while Captain Sarah Hirini will become the first player to reach the milestone of 50 tournaments for the side.