Sevens: Northland in better shape this time around

Warren Dunn has gone straight from the ITM Cup into the Northland sevens season. Photo/John Stone.

The goal is simple for the Northland sevens team ahead of this weekend's national qualifier in Hamilton: Qualify first up, and then aim to win.

Last year Northland just scraped through the qualifying competition, but this year manager Kyal Collins says they are in much better shape thanks to trips overseas to Singapore and Fiji.

"We're going down to win. The proof will be in the pudding but we feel we're a month ahead [of where we were last year]," Collins commented ahead of the final team being named.

"The squad seems tighter and keener this year, they're all sort of buying into a team culture and we're seeing it on the field. They [also]understand what we're trying to achieve on the field, which is helping them with knowing when to do what."

While the players were yet to be publicly named, Collins suggested that the team would feature a handful of ITM Cup players like Mac Sykes, Warren Dunn, Jone Macalai and Whiria Meltzer.

He noted that while some of the ITM Cup contracted players had not taken a break between the rugby and sevens seasons, the transition had been a hard one as they sought to become "sevens fit".

"There's a handful of ITM Cup players who haven't had time off - Mac, Warren, Jone - but they're looking good and getting sevens fit and I hope it goes well from here."

Collins also said that the team may feature Northland schoolboy studying in Auckland, Jack Goodhue.

Two weekends ago Goodhue, who is studying and playing for Mt Albert Grammar School, was named in the tournament team at the BNZ Condor Sevens tournament.

The equation for Northland is relatively simple. The regional qualifying tournament has eight teams and only five qualify for the national tournament in Rotorua in January - with Bay of Plenty having already qualified thanks to hosting the national competition.

"There's a bit of pressure but I'm sure we'll be okay," Collins commented. "We have had some good confidence building [lately].

"We went to Auckland for a hit out against Auckland and Counties, [but] it's very hard to get the boys up when there's nothing on the table. [Since then] they had last weekend off to refresh."

Northland will play Auckland, North Harbour, and the Waikato Barbarians in pool play.

The Northern Region qualifiers will be televised on Sky TV.