Collegiate battling sevens elite

OFF AND FLYING: The Wanganui Collegiate team that will compete at the Condor Sevens this weekend. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Wanganui Collegiate's sevens team will be playing with the big boys when the 28th BNZ Condor Sevens kicks off at Kelston Boys' High in Auckland today.

Having won the inaugural Wanganui regional qualifier three weeks ago by beating four other schools, Collegiate had a warm-up training session on Tuesday against the newly resurrected Wanganui senior sevens team.

Coach Denis Edwards said they learned a lot and hopes they will be competitive at the pre-eminent schoolboy sevens event.

"If they play to their potential, then they have every chance."

Collegiate's first pool match is against Gisborne Boys' High School at 9.30am, followed by St Bede's College from Christchurch at 11.15am.

-The team is, back: Chris Bensemann (manager, left), Opetini Dryden, Ryan Topham, Callum Joblin-Alward, Patrick Parker, Te Atuarere Albert, Steve Brown (trainer). Front, Barnaby Smith (left) , Joe Edwards, Tom Matthews, Stephen Perofeta (captain), Nick Cave, Josh Lennox, Denis Edwards (coach).