Cooks to play in Fiji 7s

The Cook Islands will be represented at the Fiji Water International Sevens tournament this week by a 13-strong squad under new sevens coach Chad Tuoro.

The team came together in Auckland and travelled to Fiji yesterday for the tournament that takes place on October 4 and 5.

Tupapa’s Teina Savage is the sole Rarotonga based player in the team representing the Cooks at the tournament that Fiji is using to showcase their country for possible inclusion on the IRB World Sevens Circuit.

The tournament will include a mix of Oceania teams, international teams and exhibition teams.

For Oceania teams Papua New Guinea, Australia, American Samoa, Fiji, Tuvalu, Samoa and Solomon Islands – the event is a qualifying tournament for the Hong Kong Sevens and Commonwealth Games.

For international teams USA, France, Argentina, Fiji Warriors, Fiji Barbarians and a prison wardens team – their inclusion is to show their support for Fiji’s campaign to be on the world sevens circuit.

The Cook Islands sevens’ squad includes – Ash Drake (NZ), James Ben-Unu (Melbourne), Louis Makuare (Brisbane), Greg Mullany (Brisbane), Teina Savage (Rarotonga), James Iopu Johnston (Sydney), Harry Berryman (Sydney), Justin Masters (Melbourne), James Raea (NZ), Junior Kiria (NZ), Havard Ioane (NZ) and Junior Napara (NZ).

Assisting head coach Chad Tuoro in the management team are team manager Cam Kilgour and medic Cam Simmiss.

Messages of support can be sent to team manager Cam Kilgour on email cam.kilgour@gmx.com or on the player’s individual Facebook page.