The Cook Islands Rugby New Zealand (CIRNZ) 7s team have landed, pumped and ready to showcase their passion, skill and camaraderie on the rugby field at the RARO Club 7s Tournament this Saturday, September 2 at Nukupure Park, Ngatangiia.

By invitation, the arrival of the CIRNZ team raises the bar for 7s competition, with hopes to inspire local players and reignite the spark for rugby on the island.

Team Manager, Opura Samuel has brought the players over with the objectives to bring the Cook Islands players together, and to use this tournament as an upskilling opportunity for the locally based players and those from Aotearoa.

Cook Islands players in the Raro Club 7’s will be considered in the selection process in preparation for the upcoming November regional tournaments: Oceania 7s from 10 – 12 November, Brisbane/Australia, and the Pacific Games 7s in Honiara/Solomon Islands from 23 – 25 November.

Captain of the CIRNZ team, 34-year-old Junior Kiria has been representing the country in 7s for 10 years, including the Commonwealth Games.

Residing in Auckland, Kiria plays for the Papatoetoe Rugby Club.

His island heritage hails from the island of Aitutaki through his mother Tapu Ahsin from Ureia, and his father Matangaro Kiria from Amuri.

“We are pretty excited to be here to take part in this tournament,” said Kiria.

“We are also looking to making connections with the Rarotonga players and our union in NZ, develop our youth in terms of growing the support in rugby, and to help develop the sport.”

“Hopefully during this trip we can attract young ones, ideally we want to come here and win, but, this trip is a lot about the bigger picture - for the future of the sport.”

The youngest in the team is 17-years-old, and for some of the players this is their first ever visit to the Cooks, a opportune time to connect with their roots.

The CIRNZ team is coached by former Cook Islands 7s and 15s  player (Commonwealth Games, World cup 7s) Amosa Amosa.

Amosa is connected to the island of Pukapuka by his father Inupa Amosa and Atiu Enuamanu through his mother Metuamanu Boaza.

This campaign is for these boys to do well, and it’s the first time we have come here to trial out, and hopefully we will get a lot of the boys for the next campaign at the Oceania, said Amosa.

The visiting team are from the South Island, Hamilton and Auckland.

Yesterday the boys trained together for the first time at Tupapa, and in the afternoon a training clinic was held at the National Stadium.

The CIRNZ team are: Opura Samuel- CIRNZ, Nathan Moeauri - Tour Coordinator Manager, Amosa Amosa - Coach, Junior Kiria - Captain, Leandro Vakatini - Vice Captain; Players - Nathan Mareva, Kaiya Mareva, David Napa, PJ Katoa, Haba Tamarua, Trent Campbell, Jordyn Tuakana, Ronan Lawrence and Mataroa ‘Matt’ Maui.

The format for the competition is a Round-Robin only (most consistent team wins the overall prize), the Raro Club 7s teams are: CIRNZ, Cook Islands Rarotonga (CIRARO), Tanusoro A, Tabusoro B and Panthers.

Referees briefing will be held at 1.30pm and games will kick off at 2pm.