Sevens: Team find a new way of getting tired

Tauranga Girls' College under-15 sevens players, training at Mount Maunganui on Saturday. Photo / Andrew Warner

The pain is all worth it.

A group of Tauranga Girls' College under-15 sevens players attracted attention on Saturday as they ran to the top of Mauao and back down carrying rubber tyres.

The tough task in the morning heat was part of a team bonding session as the girls prepare to represent Bay of Plenty for the first time at two major sevens tournaments.

This Wednesday they take on some of the country's best teams in the NZ Rugby Invitational Under-15 girls' finals day at Waitemata Rugby Club in West Auckland, which is the warm-up event before their debut appearance at the national Condor Sevens finals to be held at Kelston Boys' High School from November 29-30.

Qualifying for the Condors took some doing.

At last week's Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Sevens tournament, the Tauranga Girls' team won the under-15 category on day one, then backed it up the following day by shocking the more favoured older teams to take out the under-19 title.

Team coach Paul Pou says the girls' commitment to their fitness and learning about the game of sevens has been rewarded by the results.

"I am very proud of the girls for what they have achieved," Pou said. "Three years ago we started with one team, last year we had an under-15 and under-19 team, and this year we have two under-15s and an under-19 team. In terms of interest and development by the girls, traditionally we didn't have athletes but as we have built the programme we have started to get more athletes involved in sevens.

"There certainly is some growth in girls' sevens. I'm very happy that the Bay union is doing everything they can to support the girls. I hope that continues in the future."

Pou says winning the national under-15 sevens title is now their goal.

"To get into the Condors is a dream that they set from the start of their first training. For them to achieve that is a great result, no matter what happens, and another great success story for the girls.

"We are going up there and looking at actually taking the title, as we have the team to do that."