Sevens coach reappointed to lead campaign

Ramsey Tomokino has been reappointed as the national men’s rugby sevens coach and will lead the Cook Islands to the Oceania Qualifiers in Nusa later this year to gain entry into the 2012/2013 IRB sevens circuit.

Newly elected Cook Islands Rugby Union president Chris McKinley says the reason Tomokino, who is based in Auckland, was re-elected is because they are happy with the progress he has made since becoming the national coach in 2009.

“We feel he is growing into the job and recently he established eight new players and we see this as a positive move forward,” says McKinley. McKinley believes the new blooding of players at the recent Wellington Sevens bodes well for the future rugby sevens in the Cook Islands.

McKinley is also excited about the appointment of local based assistant coach Vaivase Samania – a former national sevens player, all round athlete and staunch supporter of the Takuvaine sports community.

“Vaivase will not only travel with the team but will also have a full say in the selection of the national team.”

Samania will also be responsible for training and preparing local based players for possible selection into the future national sevens squad.

“We have to be realistic and realise that we can’t get a whole local based team overnight,” adds McKinley. However, he says that it is the executive’s desire to have the best team represent the Cook Islands at future events.

McKinley also acknowledges the massive challenge ahead for the Cook Islands sevens squad as the dismal showing by Tonga at the recent sevens tournament means that the Cooks will have to fight harder to qualify for the next round of the IRB Sevens Circuit which includes the Wellington Sevens in February.

To be in with a chance to qualify for the Wellington, Adelaide and Hong Kong legs of the circuit – the Cooks will have to knock over Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Niue at the qualifying event in Nusa. Japan based sports trainer Keith Roberts, who has done work with local athletes in the past, is also expected to return to help upskill local trainers and coaches as the rugby union will also be sending an under 19 team to the World Cup Qualifiers in Samoa in November.

“We are placing a lot of emphasis and time on the under 19 division and upskilling our local trainees is all part of this,” says McKinley.

McKinley envisages the national under 19 squad will be made up of local based players and players who’ve developed their rugby in the islands but have moved overseas for further education and training.

Meanwhile local players and clubs are gearing up for an exciting new format for the 2012 rugby union season scheduled to start in early June.