Sevens stars in district to give clinics on skills

STEPPING OUT: Gillies Kaka in club rugby action in Havelock North. Kaka will be in Gisborne with his partner, Black Ferns Sevens player Shiray Kaka, for rugby skills clinics tomorrow. Hawke’s Bay Today file picture by Duncan Brown

RUGBY

They’ll lap it up.

Thanks to the LRB Sports Agency, aspiring local rugby players will have the chance to be coached by former All Black Sevens fullback Gillies Kaka tomorrow.

The clinics are to be held with junior teams at Uawa Domain in Tolaga Bay (9.30am), the Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 on the Rectory field (1.30pm) and an open session for the public (3pm to 4pm), also on the Rectory field.

Kaka first made the national sevens squad under master coach Gordon Tietjens in 2013 and won silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

LRB director Luke Bradley has worked with the Tauranga-based Kaka before. This time round, Kaka will be assisted by his partner, Black Ferns Sevens winger Shiray Kaka.

In 47 games for the Black Ferns Sevens, 25-year-old Shiray Kaka has scored 27 tries.

This is the 10th occasion since 2018 that LRB Sports has run clinics in Gisborne.

“LRB Sports’ goal is to make rugby accessible to all,” said Bradley, who is the Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 trainer, and has coached the Poverty Bay women’s team and Bay u18 girls.

“We’re going to put fresh faces in front of our athletes. Gillies knows the age groups and the skill level of the participants. He’ll set the menu.”

The clinics will tap the ability of both Gillies and Shiray Kaka to identify space, steer defenders and create for teammates.

“I’m stoked to be coming over to Gizzy to get the kids out to learn and have some fun,” Gillies Kaka said.

“I think it’s a great time for people to be giving back to local communities. In terms of skills, we’ll be doing some evasion work and playing competitive games.”

Thirty-plus juniors are expected at the Uawa session, the Boys’ High first 15 are “fizzing” for an opportunity to learn from Gillies and Shiray Kaka, and over 50 players will slot in from 3pm to 4pm.

“No registration is required,” Bradley said.

“Just turn up and play.”