Hamilton 7s
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All Blacks 7s wider squad for the Hamilton Sevens next week.
Fourteen players, so they'll have to drop two players.
Kurt Baker - Manawatu
Dylan Collier - Waikato
Scott Curry (c) - Bay of Plenty
Sam Dickson - Canterbury
Scott Gregory - Northland
Andrew Knewstubb - Horowhenua Kapiti
Vilimoni Koroi - Otago
Tim Mikkelson (c) - Waikato
Sione Molia - Counties Manukau
Jona Nareki - Otago
Amanaki Nicole - Canterbury
Joe Ravouvou - Auckland
Tone Ng Shiu - Ta$man
Regan Ware - TaranakiLaidlaw said the team has come into the New Year refreshed and there has been an edge at training as they build towards the Hamilton event. “Obviously we picked up some injuries through Dubai and Cape Town so to have those guys back fit, healthy and available for selection for a home tournament is encouraging. “We’re as close to full strength as you can get and we’re really excited about putting that squad on the field. There are a few guys that haven’t played much rugby since the World Cup so we need to train right and get into day one well prepared and hopefully build through the tournament as we go,” said Laidlaw. Co-captain Tim Mikkelson returns to play at his home stadium after missing the opening two legs of the Series due to the birth of his first child. Joe Ravouvou is also set to don the black jersey for the first time since his blockbusting World Cup campaign last July, having gained New Zealand citizenship to make him eligible for the World Series.http://www.allblacks.com/News/33611/all-blacks-sevens-squad-announced-for-hamilton
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Be interesting to see the crowd this weekend in Hamilton. There are still tickets available and last year it had sold out by October. Only year 2 in Hamilton.
Sydney will have a drop in crowd numbers too this year I'd imagine as they've had to shift their event to a stadium in Homebush precinct as the SFS is being rebuilt.
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Black Ferns 7s team for the Fast Four Tournament in Hamilton:
Shakira Baker - Waikato
Michaela Blyde - Bay of Plenty
Gayle Broughton - Taranaki
Rhiarna Ferris - Manawatu
Theresa Fitzpatrick - Auckland
Sarah Hirini (captain) - Manawatu
Tyla Nathan-Wong - Auckland
Alena Saili - Southland
Terina Te Tamaki - Waikato
Ruby Tui - Bay of Plenty
Stacey Waaka - Waikato
Katarina Whata-Simpkins - Wellington
Niall Williams - AucklandThe Black Ferns Sevens will take the field in New Zealand for the first time this weekend and Coach Allan Bunting has named a strong team for the invitational Fast Four tournament.Midfielder Niall Williams returns from injury while Manawatu’s Rhiarna Ferris is set to make her debut. Kelly Brazier joins Portia Woodman on the side lines, a calf injury ruling her out of the first tournament of the year.The Black Ferns Sevens will come up against China, England and France in the Fast Four tournament, played alongside the HSBC New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton..
Pool games:
Saturday, 26 January
🇳🇿 v 🏴 @ 1.26pm NZT
🇳🇿 v 🇫🇷 @ 5.10pm NZTSunday, 27 January
🇳🇿 v 🇨🇳 @ 2.42pm NZT.
LIVE on Sky Sport Pop-up 1 (channel 55).
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All Blacks 7s squad for the New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton:
1 Scott Curry
2 Tim Mikkelson
3 Tone Ng Shiu
4 Joe Ravouvou
5 Dylan Collier
6 Vilimoni Koroi
7 Sam Dickson
8 Andrew Knewstubb
9 Regan Ware
10 Kurt Baker
11 Jona Nareki
12 Sione Molia*Scott Gregory is the travelling reserve
(So Amanaki Nicole is the unlucky player to miss out)
.Pool games
Saturday, 26 January
12.36pm: v Japan
4.26pm: v Canada
8.36pm: v Spain.
LIVE on Sky Sport Pop-up 1 (channel 55).
http://www.allblacks.com/News/33624/all-blacks-sevens-team-confirmed-for-hamilton
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Awesome to see two upsets so early in the New Zealand Sevens, with Scotland beating France and Samoa beating England. Scotland has really improved the last two years, and France, well it's France. Unpredictable. Sometimes good, more often not.
Fiji crushing Wales is no surprise. Canada v Spain should be interesting. Canada is always there or theraabouts, but Spain is an up-and-comer.
Our All Blacks 7s shouldn't have a problem with Japan.
