Waikato Rugby Union will again host the Northern Regional Sevens tournament at Memorial Park in Cambridge this Saturday (December 1).

The Northern Regional Sevens tournament will feature six provincial Unions (men’s and women’s) from the upper North Island (Northland, North Harbour, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato and Bay of Plenty) as teams compete for their seeding positions at the 2018 TECT National Sevens in Tauranga.

National Sevens runners up Waikato Women will be looking for back to back Northern Regional titles after winning the 2017 tournament at the same venue beating rivals Auckland in the final. While current national Men’s champions Waikato will be looking to continue their successful 2018 by trying to win their second northern regional title in 3 years.

Both the Waikato Men's and Women’s teams have been named for this weekend’s tournament. The Waikato Men’s team will be captained by 2018 Bayleys National Sevens Player of the Tournament Jordan Bunce. Bunce is one of four returning players from last season. The squad is also bolstered by the return of former All Blacks Sevens representative Declan O’Donnell who will add experience to the national reigning champs.  

The Waikato Women’s team will be captained by Black Ferns Sevens player Huia Harding. Harding is one of six returning players from last season as they look to defend their Northern Regional title. The squad also features three Black Ferns Sevens players, five Farah Palmer Cup players and three new players that will have their opportunity to make their sevens debut for the province.  

The Northern Regional Seven’s tournament kicks off at 10.00am from Memorial Park, Cambridge on Saturday 1 December.

Waikato Men's Sevens Squad

Jordan Bunce - Captain

Tyler Campbell

Liam Coombes-Fabling

Niven Longopoa

Josh Moorby

Declan O’Donnell

Pene Rokoduguni  

           Reginald Sikivou

Sam Toa

Maioro Taylor

Valynce Te Whare

Shaun Walker

Waikato Women's Sevens Squad

Huia Harding – Captain

Ariana Bayler

Donna Fermanis

Ash Gaby-Sutherland

Violet Hapi-Wise

Sophie Millar

Lena Mitchell

Rina Parone

Chey Robins-Reti

Leanna Ryan

Veronica Sue

           Kennedy Tahau

Article added: Friday 30 November 2018