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NZU League returns to national 7’s
Friday, February 2nd, 2007
NZU Rugby League team will play in National Sevens tourney for 1st time in 29 years.The established coaching and management pairing of Trevor McLeod and Bruce Milne will again be in charge of the New Zealand Universities Rugby League Sevens team as franchise and provincial sides (along with the NZ Defence Force team) compete at Albany in the Scottswood Trust National Rugby League Sevens Tournament on 3-4 February.
It is the first time in 29 years that an NZU side will be entering the National 7’s Tournament since last competing in the 1978 Autex Carpet Tiles National Sevens tournament in Wellington. On that occasion, NZU had its best ever result by qualifying for the final beating Manawatu 21-5, Wellington 8-6 and Hawkes Bay 22-0 along the way before going down 13-8 to Taranaki in the final.
NZU team manager, Bruce Milne, said a total of 24 teams in six separate pools will take part in this weekend’s tournament at North Harbour Stadium. NZU will compete in Pool D along side the South Island’s West Coast team, Northern Storm and local hopes, Harbour.
The NZU squad includes two members of the winning 2005 Student World Cup side in Mike Nathan (Victoria University), and Mikaere October (Canterbury) along with members of last year’s side, Liu Faleono & Victor Smith (both Auckland), Anaru Grant (Waikato), Saimon Lomaloma (Victoria) and Olly Needham (Canterbury). The three other playing members in the NZU squad are Rory Coventry (Auckland), Johnny Pitman and James Raughan (both Canterbury).
Qualifiers 17 to 24 will play off for the Scottswood Bowl, qualifiers nine to 16 play-off for the Scottswood Plate and pool winners along with qualifiers 7 and 8 will play-off for the Scottswood Cup.
Carey Clements
Secretary
NZU Rugby League Council
