Rugby Sevens: New role for Tomasi Cama

Tomasi Cama. Photo / Andrew Warner.

Tomasi Cama is back.

The vastly experienced former All Blacks Sevens rep is taking on a critical new role with both national sevens sides as the teams build to their most important season yet.

The star playmaker will deliver performance analysis services to the All Blacks Sevens and New Zealand Women's sevens coaches and players.

"It's fantastic that we can tap into his vast knowledge of the game, especially over the crucial eight months ahead as we prepare for the Olympics," said Tony Philp, New Zealand High Performance Sevens Manager.

Cama is highly respected in the game, clocking up more than 60 World Series tournaments in a decade-long career that saw him earn a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2010, a World Championship title in 2013 and be named World Sevens Player of the Year in 2012. He remains the second highest points scorer in the game.

"There are very few players who have the deep understanding of sevens that 'Junior' has," said Philp. "He's an undoubted master of the game with a real appreciation of the skills and tactics required for teams to perform consistently at the highest level.

"We're very excited that he can keep contributing to the game he loves in this way. There's huge respect for Junior and we're sure he will add real value to the approach both teams are taking to what's an increasingly competitive international circuit."

Cama's role with the teams will involve video analysis working alongside the current video analysts. He will also help with the identification of promising young players and be involved in New Zealand Rugby's sevens coach development strategy.

"I'm really excited about the challenge," said Cama. "I love the game of sevens. It's been my life for so long now and while my playing days are behind me I was keen to find a role where I could stay involved and give something back to a game that's done so much for me, so this is a great fit."

Cama will travel to the Dubai World Series which kicks off the 2015-16 season for both the All Blacks Sevens and New Zealand Women's Sevens.
He currently coaches the Manawatu Sevens team.