Flying fit for Wellington Sevens

Local based national rugby sevens players Clive Nicholas, Duane Gukisuva, Sailosi Niagi and Turori Matutu head to New Zealand today to join the remaining squad ahead of their Wellington Sevens campaign.

They will be joined by trainer Keith Roberts who has been putting the local bunch through their paces for some months.

Cook Islands Rugby Union chief executive officer Ben Koteka believes the players are easily the fittest the Cooks have ever sent to compete on the IRB sevens circuit – thanks to Roberts.

In Auckland, the full Cook Islands squad will then compete in the Fijian Tailevu Sevens festival before flying to Wellington on Sunday ahead of the tournament there on February 4 and 5.

On the Wednesday before the two-day tournament – the squad will have one final hit out against the New Zealand sevens squad when the local boys join the Kiwi stars for a training run.

The opportunity to have a hit out against the Kiwi squad is due to connections of coach Ramsey Tomokino and trainer Roberts, who was New Zealand’s rugby sevens super coach Gordon Tietjen’s team trainer for some 11 years.

The Fijian sevens tournament and the hit out against New Zealand will also give the Cook Islands players the opportunity to break in their new rugby boots sourced and sponsored by Chris McKinley of Turtles.

Koteka says that each squad member will receive a top of the line pair of Asics boots from Turtles and that the players will be fully briefed on proper techniques to break in their new boots.

The Wellington tournament will see Avatiu stalwart Clive Nicholas, Ngatangiia speedster Sailosi Niagi and Auckland based James Blackwell make their debut on the international sevens scene.

Of the 17-man squad – seven players are home grown talents.

The Cook Islands sevens squad members are Duane Gukisuva (Avatiu), Turori Matutu (Tupapa), Clive Nicholas (Avatiu), Sailosi Niagi (Ngatangiia), Ashley Drake (Horowhenua), Jason Tou (Auckland), Rangi Vallance (Hawks Bay), Richard Connal (Auckland), Adam Vardey (Wellington), James Blackwell (Auckland), Koiatu Koiatu (Perth) and Nathan Robinson (Perth).

In the event of injury, standby players are Ben Enoka (Canterbury), Kairan Mahia (Tupapa), Shane Tumahai Fox (Auckland), Tai Joseph (Tupapa) and Te Pou Taana of Avatiu.

The management team will be lead by head coach Ramsey Tomokino, new manager Brent Matchett from Ponsonby, physio LeeVan Santos and trainer Keith Roberts.

CIRU and the local rugby sevens training squad would like to thank sponsors and their families, especially their wives and partners, for the support they’ve given as the team trained day and night for the Wellington Sevens tournament.