The Waikato Men's and Women’s Sevens teams have been announced for this weekend's Northern Regional Sevens at Pohe Island Reserve in Whangarei. The two teams will travel north Friday afternoon before a busy day Saturday where both sides will play three pool matches, before play-offs in the afternoon.

The Waikato Men’s team has announced a strong and experienced side that will be captained by the very experienced Luke Masirewa. Cody Nordstrom is the only player in the squad backing up a strong NPC campaign, while the speed and power of Leigh Bristowe & Newton Tudreu will provide go forward in the wide channels.

The Waikato Women’s team has named a very youthful squad for the 2023 campaign. Five players will back up following their solid Farah Palmer Cup season with a majority of the team debuting in the sevens format. Morrinsville Sports newcomers Abbey & Ella Wilton are in their first season of rugby and have made a successful and quick transition to the sevens format. The side will be co-captained by Kiriana Nolan & Mia Anderson – both backing up from the FPC campaign.

Co-coach Carla Hohepa, who will coach along sister Chyna, say that “the girls have been amazing and have put their hands up and worked hard, this year the focus has been about the rebuild of sevens in the region and creating a team culture we all want to be a part of, we can’t wait to see the girls go out and just play.”

The tournament will feature six teams in each competition with Waikato, Northland, Thames Valley, North Harbour, Counties Manukau and Bay of Plenty all making the trip to the winterless north with a men’s and women’s squad each.

Teams line up in two pools of three and will play the other two sides in their respective pool, while playing one side from the other pool to make up the three pool matches. Pool winners advance straight to semi-final while teams ranked second and third play in a cross-over sudden death play-off where the winner advances to the semi-finals. Games kick off at 10am for the women, while the men kick off at 10.20am.

Waikato Men's Sevens

Luke Masirewa - (c)

Epeli Vukivuki

Jack McConnell

Newton Tudreu

Leigh Bristowe (vc)

Brennan Ketu

Fraser Ditchfield

Levi Cressy-Baggot

Cody Nordstrom

Fletcher Morgan

Liam Anderson

Senita Lauaki (vc)

Rui Farrant

Josh Radcliffe

Waikato Women's Sevens

Kiriana Nolan (cc)

Mia Anderson (cc)

Abbey Wilton

Ella Wilton

Finau Mafi

Hinemaringi Scott

Kaea Nepia

Kelera Sing

Lela Ieremia

Niu Milo

Reese Anderson

Roelien du Plessis

Shyrah Tuliau Tuaa

Tiana Tiro

Article added: Thursday 23 November 2023