New Zealand Women’s Sevens coach Darryl Suasua has named a strong squad for this weekend’s Oceania regional qualifier for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009, with three quarters of the 12 players having been capped by the Black Ferns.
In fact captain Melissa Ruscoe, Huriana Manuel, Victoria Grant (nee Blackledge) and Hannah Porter (nee Myers) were all members of the Black Ferns side that won a third successive Women’s Rugby World Cup title back in 2006.
The three players not capped in the squad – which will compete in a round robin on day one on Friday with Australia, Niue, Fijiana and hosts Manusina – by the Black Ferns are Angela McGregor, Mallory Townsend and Selica Winiata.
Suasua, who guided the Black Ferns to the Women’s RWC titles in 1998 and 2002, named the squad after a trial camp attended by New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens, Ernie Goodhue and Black Ferns’ coaches Dale Atkins and Warwick Taylor.
Unparalleled experience from Tietjens
“We have a very important job to do, and that is to qualify for the Rugby World Cup Sevens. I believe this squad has a good mix of experienced Black Ferns and young players with immense talent,” explained Suasua.
“The Black Ferns bring experience to the side because they have been in an international environment before, and that is so important when you compete at a tournament of this nature.
“In terms of last week’s trial it was a big test for all the players. We brought in New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens and Canterbury’s Ernie Goodhue who pushed the players to the limit.
“Gordon’s Sevens experience is unparalleled and Ernie has a wealth of knowledge too, and we are really fortunate to have people of their calibre involved in our build-up.”
The squad are currently in camp in Auckland ahead of their departure for Samoa on Wednesday with New Zealand looking to gain one of two places available to the first ever Women’s RWC Sevens competition in Dubai from 5-7 March 2009.
New Zealand Women’s Sevens squad: Fa'anati Aniseko, Kendra Cocksedge, Victoria Grant, Vaniya Lavea, Angela McGregor, Huriana Manuel, Hannah Porter, Melissa Ruscoe (Captain), Aimee Sutorius, Teresa Te Tamaki, Mallory Townsend, Selica Winiata.
