SEVENS: Samuels the Texans lucky omen?

CLASSY SWEEPER: Tamati Samuels will be a key player for Napier Technical at this weekend's National Club Sevens in Hamilton. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

Call Tamati Samuels a lucky omen who could help the phoenix of the Napier Technical Old Boys Rugby Club rise again and a huge grin envelopes his face.

"Hopefully that's the case but I wasn't the only one who left in 2013," Samuels said referring to the year the Texans completed the Nash Cup-Maddison Trophy double in Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition.

Two other key backs and 2013 New Zealand Under-20 representatives, halfback Sheridan Rangihuna and winger Penikolo Latu, also left the club at the end of that season.

Fullback Samuels, 23, a former Hawke's Bay Under-20 rep has returned to the Bay after two seasons in Wellington and is making similar impact to what he did when he was with the Texans during the 2012 and '13 seasons.

In November he was awarded player-of-the-tournament honours as Althern Window Systems Napier Technical won the Poverty Bay Sevens tournament with six wins from as many games.

This qualified Tech for the 16-team New Zealand Club Sevens tournament which will be played in Hamilton this weekend.

"While making the Magpies team is in my mind, the main reason I came back to the Bay is because my partner got a job here," Samuels said.

When in Wellington playing for Petone, Samuels played for the Wellington Sevens team who finished second to Waikato at the 2015 national Sevens tournament in Rotorua.

He didn't play last year as he had surgery on a shoulder injury collected in a pre-season game.

"Playing in Wellington helped my game. Sevens is the best form of training for 15s ... it gives you an early start to your 15s programme," Samuels said.

The only Tech player in the Hawke's Bay Sevens team which recorded a top eight finish at last month's nationals, Samuels, has introduced many of Hawke's Bay's systems to the Tech programme.

"I learned a lot from Tafai," he said referring to Hawke's Bay Sevens coach and former New Zealand Sevens forward Tafai Ioasa.

"I'm sure we can put Hawke's Bay back in the top four in future if we push on. It was good Tafai gave me some work ons too," Samuels said.

A halfback and sweeper in sevens, Samuels, said he must work on his leadership with more communication, his option taking and defence.

The apprentice builder with Davcon Construction Ltd agreed the Texans have a quality team on paper and should perform well this weekend.

"Obviously we are going to face some tough opposition but if we take the right attitude we should do well. We'll have a bit of confidence after Gisborne and we have to believe we can do well otherwise we shouldn't be going."

Samuels is excited about Tech's starting backline which includes four Gisborne Boys' High School products, Ted Walters, Tane McGuire, himself and Hamilton-based Latu who meets the one pick-up player criteria.

"Peni is injury free and playing some awesome footy. He will attract a lot of defensive attention which will leave holes elsewhere. Trent [Boswell-Wakefield] brings a lot of experience and height for lineouts and ball reception time. We're pretty good all over the park."

Former Magpies loosie Kaleb Sweet is in the Tech side and he confirmed he will be playing 15s for the club this year after previously playing for Taradale.

Tech will play defending champions and hosts Melville, Ardmore Marist and a Waikato Invitation side in pool play.

Hawke's Bay champions Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports weren't eligible for the tournament as they won the Bay title last summer.

The winners of the Middlesex County Wavell Wakefield Cup earn the right to host the tournament next year.

Auckland Marist and Hamilton Marist both gave last weekend's New Zealand Marist tournament in Wellington a miss because they wanted to prioritise this weekend's event.

While the Texans will be chasing national-title glory in Hamilton this weekend their club's premier men's cricket team will be playing in the Central Districts qualifiers in Palmerston North this weekend, where the winners will qualify for the national finals later in the summer.

The Napier Technical Sevens team for this weekend is:
Ted Walters, Tamati Samuels, Tane McGuire, Elijah Martin, Lanitalo Latu, Dylan Ramsey, Nathan Ramsey, Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Isaiah Martin, Kaleb Sweet, Misipati Lealaisalanoa, Penikolo Latu.