7s squad set for busy 2014 campaign

Leading the Cook Islands rugby sevens squad and campaign for 2014 will be seasoned national representatives Koiatu Koiatu and Ash Drake.

The pair has been named in the wider Cook Islands sevens team to represent the Cook Islands in what will be a busy 2014 year for rugby sevens.

Cook Islands sevens manager Cam Kilgour says the wider squad is a mix of experienced heads and young blood, making for a dynamic and exciting squad.

“Head coach Chad Tuoro has done his homework in terms of selections with canvasing three countries – the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia – to make up this squad of 29,” says Kilgour.

“This year we have had so much interest we have set up a high performance programme for 7s and 15s, we have also included a number of under 17 players from all three countries to start planning for the future.”

Next year will be a unbelievable and busy time for Cook Islands Rugby, with the Cooks’ sevens team to take part in the Hong Kong 7s in June, the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in July, the Oceania 7s in Papa New Guinea and the Gold Coast 7s, plus a chance to qualify for London 7s in November – and not forgetting the Cook Islands 15s one-off test match in Fiji in June for the last spot at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

“We have looked all over for our 2014 Cook Islands sevens squad, we tested a group of young, exciting players so it’s really pleasing to include another set of new players for this squad,” says Kilgour.

“The good thing is we have a core (group) of players who know and understand well the pressure of these competitive environments.”

The squad will now be going through testing and fitness based training over the next two months with a possible camp in Brisbane at the end of January before the final 12 man squad for Hong Kong comes together in late March.

The wider squad includes three home based players including Teina Savage from the Tupapa Panthers club as well as exciting Aitutaki talents Hugh Henry and Teu Paerau.

Remaining wider squad members are: (New Zealand) Simon Marcel, Greg Mullany, Royce Teinakore, Ash Drake, Vernon Holden, Matt Henry, Francis Smith, Reece Joyce, Chay Raui, James Raea, Junior Kiria, Harvard Ioane, (Australia) Dexter Moroney, Joseph Kamana, Louis Makuare, Aaron Enoka, Tim Matenga, Ronnie Maui, James Johnston, Poutatau Berryman, Harry Berryman, Koiatu Koiatu, Sean Fletcher, Josh Petero, George Pamatatau and Justin Marsters.