Coach seeks sevens stars for team
,The Horowhenua-Kapiti sevens side has been looking for players on an unlikely medium ahead of the new season.
New coach Ashley Drake posted on the Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Football Union Facebook page, inviting locals to challenge themselves at a training session, held at Playford Park last night.
‘‘If you or someone you know have a unrelenting attitude to succeed, a profound rugby talent, commitment or a desire to test your abilities against New Zealand’s best. This could be your opportunity to shine,’’ he said in the post.
Drake added that strength, speed, a high skill set, a high fitness level, the ability to thrive under pressure, clear communication skills and good defence were the skills possessed by today’s sevens player.
All players had to be registered to an H-K club or college.
Rugby union chief executive Corey Kennett said public sevens trainings would often unearth ‘‘rough diamonds’’.
‘‘People sometimes underestimate themselves. Some people think they are not that good and then they find it’s actually their niche.’’
H-K also had a long history of unearthing talent.
Codie Taylor went to the national tournament with H-K while still at Horowhenua College, before making Canterbury and All Black sides.
Warwick Lahmert and Drake have both played sevens at an international level, and both are from Kapiti.
Kennett said open trainings and Facebook invites have existed for several years.
‘‘That’s a way of making sure anyone and everyone knows its on.
‘‘Ash is well aware of certain players who have played before and it’s a way of making it accessible to everyone.’’
Kennett said the union had not had problems finding enough players.
Levin’s Playford Park hosts the Central Zone 7s from December 10 to 12. Horowhenua-Kapiti finished last in the eight-team competition last season at the same ground.
The top five men’s teams qualify for nationals. Hawke’s Bay won last year’s central region title.