Sevens: Rio spot extra incentive for North's finest

Jack Goodhue.

The Northland men's sevens team will have more than a national title on their minds when they contest the Bayleys National 7s next month.

With up to four places in the All Blacks Sevens Wider Training Group coming up for grabs at the completion of the tournament, the outside chance of a golden ticket to Rio 2016 will have the boys in Cambridge blue perking up at the prospect of donning black.

Having produced two All Blacks Sevens players in recent years, in the form of Kawakawa's Jack Goodhue and Taniwha co-captain Matt Moulds, anything could happen for Northland's talented pool of players.

Acknowledging the New Zealand men's side are limping badly after suffering an injury crisis, New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said the All Blacks Sevens and New Zealand women's side were now facing much stiffer competition on their respective circuits.

"That's no surprise with a rugby gold medal up for grabs at the Olympics for first time since 1924. But it really shows how important it is we have a strong domestic competition so we can keep building the depth and skills we need to continue to do well at the top level of the game.

"The good news is that the National Sevens, the regional qualifying tournaments and the Women's Super Series, are all providing a fantastic pathway for our players to show off their skills and press for higher honours."

Sixteen men's teams and 10 women's teams will compete in the two-day national tournament which kicks off at Rotorua International Stadium on January 16.

With regional qualifying tournaments completed, Northland are seeded in a respectable 8th place which sees them seeded into Pool A with Auckland, Bay of Plenty and South Canterbury.

On the women's side of the draw, northern winners Counties Manukau head Pool 1 and central winners Manawatu top Pool 2.

Bayleys National 7s pools:

Men:

Pool A: Auckland, Northland, Bay of Plenty, South Canterbury.

Pool B: Hawke's Bay, Otago, Wellington, Taranaki.

Pool C: Counties Manukau, North Harbour, Wanganui, Mid Canterbury.

Pool D: Waikato, Manawatu, Tasman, Canterbury.

Women:

Pool 1: Counties Manukau, Waikato, Wellington, North Harbour, Otago.

Pool 2: Manawatu, Auckland, Wairarapa Bush, Canterbury, Tasman.