Sevens in Heaven 2009

Coverage of the Cook Islands International Sevens 2009

Aitutaki itching to play
Tauae Bulls will try to retain title
A potent mix
Rifles firing
Southern Storm blows in
Vaivase forms Tama Toa
Ara Wheke want better than bowl
Home boy back with new team
Hastings has high hopes

Members of the Araura Enua sevens team – from left, Mati Messine, Ben Samuel, Billy Bush, Pirini Simiona, Pita Ngatua and Pi David Jnr with their secret body building food – watermelon. 09110413

A keen Aitutaki sevens team is itching to hit the field in the outer island’s first international sevens appearance in some years.

Leading the way for the young team is former national sevens representative Messine Manapori who is both coach and player.

While the team is the pride of Aitutaki, they’ve had to ring in three Rarotonga players to make up the numbers as some Aitutaki players were not able to take time off work.

Nevertheless the team is thrilled to welcome on board Teokotai ‘Billy Bush’ Tuaivi, 16-year-old Turoa Kamana from Tupapa and Cedric Toru Jnr.

Manapori is confident that the three Rarotonga players will easily blend into the Araura Enua team and work well once they step out on to the field.

The players from the home island of Aitutaki are a combination of ex CISA students, big hitters like Mau George and lightning fast runners like Pi David Jnr.

As the coach/player of the team, Manapori will also don the Araura Enua jersey along with Mati Messine, Ben Samuel, Pirini Simiona, Pita Ngatua, Loni Vanilla, Itu Davey, Nga Tauiti and Brothers Ua.

The team would like to thank their sponsors Air Rarotonga, Tamanu Beach and Pacific Resort for their support in making the teams international sevens dream a reality.

So if you have some Aitutaki blood or just love the island – make sure you cheer on the Araura Enua team.

• Matariki Wilson

It’s no bull – the Tauae Bulls are back to retain their 2008 international sevens title. 09110417

Tauae Bulls, the 2008 international sevens champions, may only have two of their original players from last year’s winning squad back again this year, but the team is still confident they can retain the trophy.

Dominated by Waikato NPC players, the team say they mean business.

Leading the team as trainer is injured New Zealand sevens representative Rene Ranger who was instrumental in the team’s win last year.

He is supported by regular Tauae Bulls player Steve Keta from Waikato.

Ranger says that while the players have only been tog-ether as a team in the last two days – it’s no indication of how they will perform on the sevens stage.

“We’ve heard some names of players here and of course they are going to be a threat, but they’re on holiday,” says Ranger.

Despite being injured, Ranger says it’s great to be back on the island and caught up in the sevens fever.

Team members have again been taken in, fed and looked after by Takuvaine member of parliament mama Ngai Tupa and coached by Nooroa Tupa.

The team includes Joe Joe Ranger (Northland development team), Josaan Levien (Waikato), Aaron Rogers (Waikato), Steve Keta (Waikato), Winnie Marsters (Waikato), Vili Maafu (North Harbour), Daniel Faleafa (Waikato) and Ina Areai (Bay of plenty).

If you’re a Bulls fan, be sure to practice your bull sign and support your defending champion.

• Matariki Wilson

Members of the Avatiu Tower sevens team and their staunch supporters who help the youngsters at training so that they can be as prepared as they can be for the international sevens tournament. 09110403

It should be a balanced Avatiu Tower sevens team that takes to the field in the first day of the international sevens tournament tomorrow.

The team has managed to attract some of the country’s stand out young talent including two Aitutaki speedsters to team up with the club’s experienced players for what should be a potent mix.

And with locals sevens legend Terry Piri steering the ship, it’s no wonder talented young players gravitate to Avatiu.

And Piri promises that they haven’t joined the international sevens competition to work on their sun tan.

“We are going out there to play the game,” says Piri. “What’s the point of developing our young players if they can’t compete?”

And Piri has a straight forward plan for his team.

“Our plan is to top our pool on the first day of the competition then the next day we work towards winning the cup.”

Piri is confident in the fitness, skill and the commitment to the tournament from his players.

And with a mixture of players in the team from around Rarotonga and outer islands, Piri says the team doesn’t just represent the village of Avatiu.

“It’s about people pride, local pride.”

The team includes Clive Nicholas, Bruce Goldsworthy, Teu Paerau (Aitutaki), Alex Roa (Aitutaki), Tepou Taana, Maka Tereu, Tahiri Elikana, Nathan Tisam, Adam Tangata and the clubs old work horse Lui Nicholas.

Piri asks all sevens supporters to come and support the team in their endeavour to win the 20th anniversary Sevens in Heaven tournament cup.

• Matariki Wilson

The new College Rifles sevens side is keen to make a positive debut at the Cook Islands sevens tournament. 09110206

College Rifles is both excited and privileged to debut at the Cook Islands tournament in 2009 especially because this is the 20th anniversary of the tournament.

The team enters into its second full season of sevens rugby in 2009 since its debut in the Auckland Fiji sevens tournament in October 2008.

Made up entirely of College Rifles Club players, the sevens setup is proving to be a fantastic development area for up and coming players at the club.

In 2008 the club’s general manager Derek Rope saw the opportunity to start a sevens programme with the vision that eventually the club would have two completely separate rugby seasons for 15-a-side and sevens with each player modelling themselves on one or the other.

The club is privileged to have current New Zealand sevens player Edwin Cocker as the coach of the sevens team and along with co-coach and long time friend Stephen Ah Chong have been fundamental in growth and success to date.

Edwin has played in the Cook Island tournament in previous years and so has some idea of what to expect and how College Rifles can prepare for such a competitive tournament. The team includes: Gareth Marsden (c), Jeremy Innes (vc), Russell Dobbie, John Sikuea, Joe Mafoe, Pieter Kruger, Paul Fisiiahi, Jay Karaitiana, Desmond Helu, Aliva Ikiua, Nela Fotu, Casey Clark, Edwin Cocker (coach), Stephen Ah Chong (coach), David Gainsford (manager), Derek Rope General (club general manager), Ahmed Khalil (assistant manager) and Ray Rippon (masseur).

- College Rifles

The Southern Storm rugby sevens team is a group of highly skilled players who have high profiles in the South Island region, with several competing in the champion Otago Country side this season.

The inspiration for Southern Storm came from Queenstown massage therapist Rebecca Whyte who works with professional rugby teams, including the All Blacks, and identi- fied an opportunity for local players to compete in the tournament.

“I attended the Cook Islands tournament working with the Auckland Sevens team a couple of years ago and the idea started to form then.”

The Southern Storm’s bid was helped by Cook Islands sevens superstar Koiatu Koiatu who recommended the team be included, after watching local players in action at the New Zealand Rugby Sevens in Queenstown, earlier this year.

“Koiatu believes our team has a lot of talent and untapped potential and will gain confidence competing against top class Pacific Islands teams,” says Rebecca, who is co-ordinating the Southern Storm.

“Obviously all eyes will be on the sport with its recent short listing for the 2016 Summer Olympics. It will add huge value to the game and our players will have a chance to show their skills in the Cook Islands,” she says.

“We will also have a training session prior to the tournament with guru Eric Rush who is keen to help the team in its first appearance. This is a very exciting opportunity and will be a highlight of the tournament.

“Southern Storm’s inclusion in this tournament is a coup for rugby sevens in the south.

The goal of team members is to help foster the growth of the sport from primary to secondary school level, acting as role models for other up and coming young players.

We hope people will see it as an opportunity to support the team in its debut tournament as founding sponsors.”

The Southern Storm squad includes: Daniel Iosefo, Aidan Winter, Drew Carmondy, Todd Adolph, Daniel Eyles, Daniel Dodds, Iain Banks, Mictchell Lake, Ben Pervis, Mike Evans, Kapa Moeke, Matt Faddes and Simon Williams.

• Southern Storm

When local sevens legend Vaivase Samania began his campaign to prepare a team for the international sevens tournament, he originally thought of putting together a team made up of fellow Samoan players.

But he just couldn’t ignore the number of talented non-Samoan players that weren’t in teams from the Te Au O Tonga district.

With the inclusion of players like Kairan Mash from Tupapa, Spoon Marsters from Arorangi, Mathew Pierre from the Avatiu club and others – the team could hardly be called the Samoan community sevens team.

It was then that the Tama Toa United team was born.

Samania led the Takuvaine club to a win in the recent local club sevens tournament and this achievement certa- inly boosts the team’s confidence.

So expect to see a tight knit Tama Toa United team take on the international sevens challenge tomorrow and Saturday.

• Matariki Wilson

Te Ara Wheke sevens team members are looking to improve their performance from last year’s tournament where they won the bowl trophy.

We have retained a few of last year’s players including James Solomon who was our highest try scorer.

In keeping with the developmental nature of our club, we have a new crop of players who are looking to develop their sevens skills.

As always the side has a Maori flavour, though this year we also have our own Fijian flyer.

Jerard Saunders and Jacob de Berry have both moved into the coach and manager positions full time due to recent surgery and injuries.

David Hemopo is returning as captain, while brother TJ Hemopo recovered from an injury last year and he’s taking to the field this year.

Unfortunately the official team strip hadn’t arrived in time for the 2009 tournament, so also look out for the official royal blue and red strip of the Ara Wheke.

More of our supporters are attending the tourney so expect some vocal support from home.

In short everyone is looking forward to the island and sevens heaven.

Team members are: David Hemopo, T.J. Hemopo, Byron Peehi-Floyd, James Solomon, Daryl Marshal, Rory Jones, Charles Looker, Anthony Thompson, Roy Wolfe, Roydon Campbell, Tuahu Thomas, Samuel Mayes, Steve Buwawa, Eugene Taurua, Jacob Deberry and Jerard Saunders.

• Ara Wheke

Cook Islander Jeff Karika is thrilled to be bringing home a rugby sevens team from Hastings to take part in the 2009 Sevens in Heaven 20th anniversary tournament.

Karika, originally from Takuvaine, played in the international tournament in 1992 and 1995 for the Avatiu club.

He has prepared a young sevens team for the tournament under the Hasting Rugby and Sports Club name.

The team is made up of Kiwi and Pacific Islands players including Cook Islander Enoka Chung Ching of Arorangi.

He and his team look forward to taking to the field to show what they can do.

• Matariki Wilson

By Jeff Karika

It would be remiss of me to say that I’m not excited about the prospect of bringing a local team, the Hastings Rugby and Sports squad, home to attend the 20th anniversary of the Sevens in Heaven rugby tournament.

After weeks of hard work and fund-raising, we have finally arrived.

In 1992-95 I personally played in the tournament for Avatiu and understand the great value that this opportunity presents to our local rugby players.

We have prepared a young side that is eager to show what they have and enjoy the experience that Rarotonga has to offer.

Our objective is to expose our young talent to the rigours of tournament play and the cultural difference that Rarotonga offers.

Our rugby club is nearing some exciting times with the building of new clubrooms that will be completed in the next few weeks.

Hastings Rugby and Sports Club was formed at the end of 1995 with the amalgamation of Hastings Celtic and Hastings High School Old Boys Rugby Clubs and started playing in 1996.

The club’s logo is representative of the four main secondary schools in Hastings – Hastings Boys High School, St John’s College, Karamu High School and Lindisfarne College. Notable amongst these is Hastings Boys High School (the former feeder school to Old Boys) and St John’s College (to Hastings Celtic).

We would like to thank the club for their support and we look forward to the tournament.

The team is lead by captain Dan Stemp and includes Nigel Walshe, Jarrod Hill, Enoka Chung Ching, Toalima Toma, Sam Poole, Fevaai Va’a, Daniel Nukunuku, Chris Chettleburgh, Neria Fomai, James Crisp and Adam Saunders.

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