The Whanganui representative sevens team will have their final hit out tomorrow in Palmerston North as they wrap up preparations for a Central Regions tournament where they want to make a big impression.
The team will play the Horowhenua-Kapiti sevens team and two squads selected from the big Manawatu sevenstraining group of around 24 to 26 players.
"This will be the last chance to put the hand up. This hit out is a level up from what we've played," said coach Tom Wells.
He will be taking 12 to 14 players with him, although they will be without former NZ Sevens representative Trinity Spooner-Neera, as the rugby nomad from the Hawke's Bay has joined up with the Taranaki sevens squad.
"He's a loss because he's a classy player," said Wells, who added they were hoping to get teenaged bolter Stephen Perofeta as cover, but he of course is also Taranaki bound.
"We're a small unit and it's hard enough to get guys to training. Most of them are coming off a long Heartland season.
"Possibly the commitment level hasn't been as high as last year, but the squad quality is definitely up."
The team still have around 4 to 5 members of the all-conquering Ngamatapouri sevens team, who followed up their Settlers Honey Whanganui Club Sevens victory in early November by winning the 2015 Piri Weepu Invitational Sevens in Wainuiomata last weekend.
Ngamatapouri beat Napier Pirates 33-24 in the Men's Cup final at William Jones Park after being undefeated in pool play and winning the semifinal over Wellington's Old Boys University 12-5.
It's having this kind of talent which makes Wells confident the Whanganui team can achieve their goal of finishing in the Top 5 at the Central tournament and qualifying for the Bayleys National Sevens in Rotorua this January.
Among them is Samu Kubunavanua, who Wells said is back to his best after injury, although he will be rushing back on the plane next week, as he will join Heartland Player of the Year nominees Perofeta and Lindsay Horrocks at the Steinlager Rugby Awards in Auckland on the Friday night.
Kubunavanua's amazing team try from the Meads Cup final has been announced in the Top 3 of the public vote for the Sky Fans Try of the Year, up against the Ma'a Nonu and Julian Savea tries from the Rugby World Cup.
The winner will be announced on the night.
Tomorrow's games will be at the Kia Toa Rugby Club grounds in Palmerston North.
