Northland's team to take part in this weekend's regional sevens qualifier in Hamilton includes six ITM Cup players and teenage sevens star Jack Goodhue.
Coach Peter Nock and his selectors have picked Warren Dunn, Derek Carpenter, Matt Moulds, Jone Macilai, Mac Sykes and Whiria Meltzer to give the 12-strong sidea fair amount of experience. Joining the ITM Cup players who have trained through is Auckland-based Northlander 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 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.
Northland will play Auckland, North Harbour, and the Waikato Barbarians in pool play. The side will be captained by Dunn. The Northern Region qualifiers will be televised on Sky TV.
NORTHLAND Warren Dunn (c), Denny Windelborn, Derek Carpenter, Matt Moulds, Jone Macilai, Jack Goodhue, Tyler Lansdowne, Rhys Te Nana, Whiria Meltzer, Mac Sykes, Josh Brown, Troy Lobendahn. Coach: Peter Nock; Manager: Kyal Collins; Physios: Jun Yamagushi and Alex Ashton; Trainer: Tim Hurst.
