2017-18 World Sevens Series
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First new signing for the men's sevens squad:
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New players contracted and the official start of a centralised Sevens programme! Well, for the men anyway. It doesn't say anything about the women's programme.
With more than half of the 2017/18 squad finalised, Laidlaw has today confirmed Bailey Simonsson (Bay of Plenty) and Jona Nareki (Otago) among the new talent contracted for the 2017/2018 international season. Kurt Baker makes a return to the group, bringing back some valuable experience following sevens legend DJ Forbes’ retirement this year. “There is some good young talent in Bailey Simonsson and Jona Nareki; and we’re hoping to lock in a few more as well. We need to be part of the New Zealand Rugby player development process and we are working hard with the Super Rugby Clubs and Provincial Unions to strengthen those pathways,” said Laidlaw.This week marks the official start of a newly centralised Sevens programme, based in Tauranga. All contracted All Blacks Sevens players are now required to live near their base in the Bay of Plenty. Laidlaw said a permanent, centralised base for the squad will provide countless benefits as they embark on their new era. “Previously players would spend anywhere between 150-170 nights a year away from home. Centralisation will reduce this by up to 50 nights a year, delivering more time together but less time away from the important support networks of family and loved ones.”http://www.allblacks.com/News/31580/all-blacks-sevens-assemble-at-new-home-base
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Sherwin Stowers announces retirement from rugby
Sevens stalwart Sherwin Stowers has today announced his retirement from professional rugby after a prominent career for the All Blacks Sevens and Counties Manukau Steelers. Stowers debuted for New Zealand as an 18-year-old in Dubai in 2004. Since then he has made 38 tournament appearances and scored 126 tries, the fourth-most by any New Zealand player. Stowers has four World Series victories, Commonwealth Games gold and silver medals and a World Rugby Sevens World Cup title to his name. Stowers said after achieving so much in his rugby career, the time was right to turn his focus to home. "I decided that after nine seasons with the All Blacks Sevens team it’s time to retire and focus on my family, and being a dad. "With two young kids at home I wasn’t able to give as much to them as I would have liked between training, recovery, camps and travel. I would be doing the team an injustice if I kept playing without giving 110 per cent which I have always strived to do." Stowers paid tribute to his family in remembering an exciting career in the black jersey.Outside of Sevens, Stowers played 78 matches for the Counties Manukau Steelers and he has 18 caps for the Blues Super Rugby club.http://www.allblacks.com/News/31627/sherwin-stowers-hangs-up-the-boots
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Isn't the problem that ultimately no one really cares about sevens? The players just didn't value the Olympics that highly. A lot of players don't want to risk their careers for a one off tournament. Winning a gold medal would be a great achievement but it is no guarantee that the All Blacks would have made that happen.
How weren't Tew or Hansen transparent?
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@frye am sure if they only needed to be in camp a week or 2, a number would have put up tier hands, but the longer term commitment was harder for them I expect as they are trying to establish thier AB career without stalling it for a year in 7s
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Above all, I think, men's sevens has an image problem in NZ. Ever wondered why Richie McCaw is almost considered a deity in NZ, but not a successful 7s captain like DJ Forbes (six Sevens Series titles, a Sevens World Cup and two Commonwealth Games gold medals)? Why do large number of rugby players and rugby fans, including on the fern, consider sevens as a "lesser" version of rugby than XVs? If a player can get a professional XVs contract (particularly Super Rugby), that's what he'll prioritise, and he's lost to sevens. Even if he can earn a professional 7s contract. And that applies also to players who will never be good enough to become ABs. You don't have that in some other countries, where a professional XVs competition doesn't seem to have that impact. Clear example is South Africa, which has consistently performed well in the World Series. Only twice in the last ten seasons, they've finished outside the top 4 in the World Series (fifth & sixth).
Changing that image should start at the top at NZR, and then trickle down. Not just their PR, but also anything that can enhance performance (like the centralisation that has only just been introduced this year), improve coaching, improve player selection and depth. If results improve, image will improve as well. Start winning, and more players will want to play the code and more rugby fans will appreciate the code. The thing is, NZR has never given sevens enough priority, probably because the financial return is lower. It's all about the money! Isn't it?
What I've also noticed is that the AB7s had to release players with an NPC contract - for example, Koroi to Otago - before the Sevens Series had finished. That's ridiculous. SR players join their NPC team after SR has finished. There's no reason why the same can't apply to AB7s players. The last leg of the upcoming Series is early June 2018. That's also NZR's job.
Another problem is player depth. In a rugby mad country like NZ there should be plenty of depth. The AB7s recruited a lot of new players last year, but the results were abysmal. Was that just a matter of bad selections and coaching? Or did they recruit mainly from XVs teams? I think they should start developing specialist sevens players much younger than is (maybe) the case now. I know secondary schools do play sevens tournaments and the condor sevens is a great example, but maybe there need to be more structured competitions like there are in XVs? And maybe a male equivalent of the Going for Gold programme that has unearthed so much talented women's sevens players (converting netball, league, football, touch players into sevens players)? Again, that's something NZR should work on.
I've just been brainstorming in the previous paragraphs, but I think there's a lot more that NZR can do to improve the sevens game and its image. I'm convinced we don't need ABs or SR players to have a great and successful men's sevens team. But NZR must WANT it. Maybe they need an innovative board member especially for sevens?
