TOP CLASS: Tauranga Boys' First XV captain Will Ngatai, right, will play for the New Zealand Maori Invitational side at the World Schools Sevens tomorrow. PHOTO/FILE
TOP CLASS: Tauranga Boys' First XV captain Will Ngatai, right, will play for the New Zealand Maori Invitational side at the World Schools Sevens tomorrow. PHOTO/FILE
The inaugural GJ Gardner World Schools Sevens event takes place tomorrow at Sacred Heart College with six teams in the boys' division and four in the girls'.
The boys' teams are Australia, New Zealand Condors, New Zealand Maori, New Zealand Fijians, Samoan Barbarians and the Cook Islands, with the girls'teams from Australia, New Zealand Condors, New Zealand Wasps, and Samoan Barbarians.
The tournament will be televised live on Sky Sport, coverage starting at 10am.
Bay of Plenty will be heavily represented this weekend with three players in the New Zealand Maori side, one in the New Zealand Condors boys' and six in the New Zealand Wasps.
New Zealand Wasps will be coached by Bay of Plenty Under-18 Secondary School Girls' Sevens coach Paul Pou.
"I have a very good group of young women in my team with power, pace and great skills. Getting the team to gel together to perform will be the biggest challenge I will have this week," Pou said.
"Looking at all the team lists, there are some really talented athletes coming through the ranks and this is a chance to show what they are capable of at the next level."
Pou highlights the opportunity the tournament brings for aspiring sevens players.
"It is great for the girls to get this kind of exposure and to also play quality opposition with the international teams that are playing on the weekend.
"The girls and boys that have been selected to play in this tournament have worked hard to get to this stage and now they have the opportunity to push for higher honours in the near future."
BOP selections:
New Zealand Maori Sevens Invitational: Will Ngatai (Tauranga Boys' College) Matangireia Yates-Francis (Rotorua Boys' High School) Te Ra Whata (Rotorua Boys' High School)
New Zealand Condor Sevens Boys Invitational: Leroy Carter (Tauranga Boys' College)
New Zealand Wasps Sevens Girls Invitational: Parekura Whareaorere (Te Puke High School) Jade Tauilaepa (Tauranga Girls' College) Koroia Heyblom (Te Puke High School) Jade Carter (Tauranga Girls' College) Tynelle Fitzgerald (Trident High School) Ora Williams (Taupo-nui-a-Tia) Coach: Paul Po (Rangataua Sports)
