2016-2017 World Sevens Series
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Clark Laidlaw is the new NZ men's coach, but ...
Laidlaw will take up his new role from 1 June 2017
Our priority was getting the right coach with the long-term vision to win Olympic gold. So while we would have loved Clark to start straight away, we are happy to wait until next year because he is the best person for the job to build a winning sevens team over the long term.
New Zealand Rugby has also announced that experienced sevens coaches and former All Blacks Sevens players Scott Waldrom and Tomasi Cama will form the coaching team for the upcoming World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments starting in Dubai in December.
http://www.allblacks.com/News/30122/clark-laidlaw-appointed-head-coach-of-all-blacks-sevens
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@Crucial you'd hope there will be a lot of communication between them to ensure that transition is smooth and everyone is on the same page....that said, it is the people side of things, you can be hugely technical and be a genius but if you suck at people skills, aint gonna help much
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I really hope the Olympics doesn't become the whole point of Sevens as it is way too random a format to spend 4 years building towards. The point should be to win the world series as that is measure over a number of events and kind of smoothes out the random nature.
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@KiwiPie said in 2016-2017 World Sevens Series:
I really hope the Olympics doesn't become the whole point of Sevens as it is way too random a format to spend 4 years building towards. The point should be to win the world series as that is measure over a number of events and kind of smoothes out the random nature.
I agree with you, although there are also the RWC Sevens and the Common Wealth Games, which both take place in 2018.
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@KiwiPie said in 2016-2017 World Sevens Series:
I really hope the Olympics doesn't become the whole point of Sevens as it is way too random a format to spend 4 years building towards. The point should be to win the world series as that is measure over a number of events and kind of smoothes out the random nature.
This. Even when we dominated 7's we didn't win every tournament.
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First All Blacks Sevens squad named for the 2016-17 season (Dubai Sevens (2-3 December 2016) and Cape Town (10-11 December 2016)):
Scott Curry (Captain)
Tim Mikkelson
Antonio Kiri Kiri
DJ Forbes
Dylan Collier
Beaudin Waaka
Iopu Iopu-Aso
Rocky Khan
Sherwin Stowers
Jonathan Ruru (new cap)
Isaac Te Tamaki
Sione Moliahttp://www.allblacks.com/News/30150/one-new-cap-in-all-blacks-sevens-squad
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This selection seems to confirm my suspicion that Kaka may no longer be available for 7s (unless he's injured). There was some talk a while back that he was considering a return to XVs, although he has been playing several sevens tournaments in Asia the last few months. It will be interesting to see whether he's going to play club rugby to work his way back into the Magpies squad, or whether he'll re-appear in the sevens squad for Wellington and Sydney.
Apart from Kaka, also missing are Joe Webber (who has re-signed with the sevens squad), Teddy Stanaway, Lewis Ormond, and Regan Ware ....
I had hoped for a few more new names and not so many Olympic rejects, but awesome to see Ruru in the squad, who had a really good Mitre 10 Cup season with Otago.
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@Bones said in 2016-2017 World Sevens Series:
@Stargazer Any juice on Ruru? What position?
Noted absence of Dickson, is he injured?
Ruru plays halfback in XVs. I wonder whether he's replacing Kaka, but unsure. I can't remember what position he played for the Hawke's Bay team that won the Central Region Qualifier last year.
You're right, Dickson not in the squad either. No idea whether he's injured, but I guess he must be as he's also one of the players who has re-signed.
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The first Black Ferns Sevens squad for the 2016-17 season has also been named (Dubai Sevens, 1-2 December 2016):
Ruby Tui
Shakira Baker
Jordon Webber
Niall Williams
Sarah Goss (captain)
Michaela Blyde
Tyla Nathan-Wong
Kelly Brazier
Tenika Willison* (Waikato)
Katarina Whata-Simpkins
Portia Woodman
Rebekah Cordero-Tufuga*Travelling reserves are:
Jess Drummond* ( Ta$man)
Danielle Paenga*
*new capSeveral players were unavailable to play in the opening tournament: Kayla McAlister, Gayle Broughton, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Shiray Tane, Stacey Waaka, Terina Te Tamaki, Lesley Ketu and (retired) Huriana Manuel, Carla Hohepa and Honey Hireme.
https://www.allblacks.com/News/30149/four-new-players-in-black-ferns-sevens-for-dubai
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The Women's Dubai Sevens starts today.
Draw day 1 in NZ time:Thursday 1 December:
10:06pm: Black Ferns 7s v IrelandFriday 2 December:
1.02am: Black Ferns 7s v Fiji
3.37am: Black Ferns 7s v FranceThose fuckwits from Sky are again not broadcasting most women's games. Only the finals on day 2 are televised.
So if you want to watch these games, you can only watch them on the World Rugby website/YouTube channel. Because the livestream will be geo-blocked, you will need a geo-unblocker or change VPN to a country that is not on the list on this webpage: http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/where-can-i-watch (for example, India, Ireland, Romania and most other Eastern European countries).I'll add the link to the livestream when it's available.
Apparently, also radio commentary will be available on World Rugby Radio online here
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The livestream is here: http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/stage/1719/match/24080. I'm having huge trouble with my geo-unblocker so haven't seen much of the first half.
Halftime: Black Ferns Sevens 17 - 0 Ireland Sevens
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Full time: Black Ferns Sevens 27 - 5 Ireland
NZ tries: Michaela Blyde 2, Rebekah Cordero-Tufuga, Shakira Baker, Sarah Goss; 1 conversion Tyla Nathan-WongThe stream kept on buffering, so I've not been able to watch the game, but glad to read online that the NZ women started the tournament and new season well.