New Zealand’s Head Coach for the Sevens team, Tomasi Cama, has welcomed three new players ahead of the upcoming 2024-25 HSBC SVNS Series. The fresh faces include Oli Mathis from Waikato and Sofai Maka from North Harbour, along with Joey Taumateine, who has been promoted from the New Zealand Men’s Sevens Development squad.
Cama expressed his enthusiasm for the integration of young talent into the team, noting, “As coaches, it excites us to bring young people in and help with their growth. They have to learn fast, but that is all part of the excitement.”
The team will be led by Dylan Collier as captain, with seasoned players Joe Webber and Sione Molia stepping into significant roles due to their extensive experience, each having played over 50 matches in the iconic black jersey.
Cama emphasized the importance of team identity, stating, “We’ve talked a lot about connecting to our DNA. This team is about hard work; that will be the foundation that allows us to play a brand of rugby we all love: exciting, free-flowing, and unstructured. That’s what we want to go out there to do.”
This development signals a promising future for New Zealand Sevens, blending youthful vigor with experienced leadership, in a bid to enhance their play style and performance in the upcoming series.
In summary, with the introduction of new talent and an emphasis on their playing philosophy, the New Zealand Sevens team is set to approach the new season with optimism, aiming for an electrifying and entertaining style of rugby.
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