New Zealand 7s Players Help Push Ticket Sales
Hamilton residents were treated to a free breakfast while they rubbed shoulders with some of New Zealand’s rugby sevens superstars.
The All Black and Black Ferns sevens players hosted the BBQ arranged by the Hamilton City Council in Garden Place yesterday.
The exercise was targeted to allow fans to meet the players ahead of this weekend’s New Zealand leg of the World Sevens Series.
This year’s tournament features the addition of a Fast Four women’s tournament, the first time the Black Ferns Sevens will compete in New Zealand.
The international teams started arriving in Hamilton on Sunday while defending champions Fiji Airways Fijians 7s side arrived on Monday.
It’s the second year Hamilton has hosted the International tournament and while last year was a sell out there are still some tickets available.
Ticket sales are tracking well and we are excited at the prospect of what will be another bumper crowd at the 2019 HSBC New Zealand Sevens, New Zealand Sevens general manager Steve Dunbar said.
HOSTS FINALISE SQUAD
Meanwhile, the last five places in the New Zealand rugby sevens squad for 2019 have been confirmed with Sam Dickson signing on through to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Dylan Collier has signed on for this year, while the others confirmed in the 20-man squad are Luke Masirewa, Tone Ng Shiu and Amanaki Nicole.
Dickson, 29, debuted for the All Blacks Sevens in Dubai in 2012 and is one of the team’s most experienced players with 42 World Series tournaments along with appearances as the Rugby World Cup Sevens, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
The 27-year-old Collier debuted in Wellington in 2015 and has gone on to be a regular fixture in the All Blacks Sevens, amassing 29 World Series caps.
NZ: Kurt Baker, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Dylan Collier, Scott Curry, Sam Dickson, Scott Gregory, Trael Joass, Niko Jones, Andrew Knewstubb, Vilimoni Koroi, Luke Masirewa, Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia, Jona Nareki, Amanaki Nicole, Joe Ravouvou, Akuila Rokolisoa, Tone Ng Shiu, Regan Ware, Joe Webber
– Edited by Grace Narayan
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