Women prepare for Borneo 7s

The Cook Islands has been invited to participate at the Asia Pacific Women’s Sevens Tournament from October 29 to 31.

The opportunity to compete came about due to a late withdrawal of another Pacific island country.

The Borneo tournament is expected to field eight sides with top Asian teams matching up to Pacific sides Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea. This tournament will see the debut of the Cook Islands women’s rugby 7s team and a clear pathway for players to future international exposure.

Due to time restraints the Cook Islands Rugby Union has appointed Nooroa Maui as head coach and Wayne Robati as the team manager and assistant coach.

Both men have an affinity with women’s rugby as coaches of the country and city women’s rugby teams and Maui adds the experience of having led the Cook Islands under 19 squad to the Junior World Rugby Trophy in Chile in 2008.

CIRU explains that due to the limited time frame and the urgent need to assemble a squad these appointments were made rather than advertising the positions but gives assurances that the normal process of advertising for head coach and manager will be followed in future.

Cook Islands women’s rugby is awaiting a decision on whether women’s rugby sevens will be included at next year’s South Pacific Games in Noumea.

On our shores last week was IRB coach and referee trainer Frank Boivert, a former coach of the USA women’s Eagles.

Boivert spent a couple of early morning sessions with the girls helping them prepare for the Borneo tournament and also what to expect from other participating teams.

On Friday, September 3 and Saturday, September 4 local trials will be held to select a train-on squad and expect to see a few speedsters from the island of Aitutaki vying for national selection too.

For more information on how you can support women’s rugby or for training days and times – call Lara Sadaraka on 77714.