NZ Rugby plot t path for kid Ko o
Vilimoni Koroi might be fresh out of school but he’s already seen action sevens team and is being groomed for bigger things, writes Benn
IN THE space of a few short months, Vilimoni Koroi has gone from schoolboy to sevens star. The 18-year-old was a shock inclusion in the New Zealand Sevens squad following the national tournament in Rotorua in January, having impressed interim coach Scott Waldrom and his assistant, Tomasi Cama.
Cama has been watching young Koroi for some time, getting him involved in Manawatu sevens camps when he was still at Feilding High School. He’s long been a player with a big future in Cama’s eyes.
Born and raised in Whanganui, a crucial part of Koroi’s ability is in his genes.
His parents are Fijian, and as Cama puts it, ‘‘there aren’t many Fijians who don’t know how to play sevens’’.
So when he first took the field for New Zealand, it felt natural for the teenage sensation.
A massive step-up from taking the field at Feilding High School, Koroi has made the transition seem easy with a number of dazzling displays in black, playing as New Zealand’s main playmaker.
‘‘When I was playing, it took me four or five years to be any good,’’ Cama, widely regarded as New Zealand’s finest sevens player, recalls of his own career.
‘‘For Vili, it took one tournament. He’s an amazing talent.’’
Watch Koroi play and you’ll start reminiscing about watching Cama play in his prime. It might be seen as unfair to compare him to Waisale Serevi but he’s another sevens great who Koroi can conjure images of, such is his natural ability in the game.
Still incredibly raw, Cama said Koroi needs to take important steps with his decision making.
‘‘Luckily, he’s almost always good enough to get out of trouble,’’ Cama said.
‘‘We don’t want to stop him doing that. You learn from your mistakes but we want him to think about that a bit more.
‘‘He’s got a team there, so it’s about using his teammates, using their power, and not doing it all yourself.
‘‘We definitely don’t want to stop his natural instincts though. That’s a really important part of his game, so we encourage that.’’
Koroi himself is almost unaware of his early success with New Zealand.
This is a kid fresh from playing college rugby. The step up has been huge, he says, and when he plays it’s just about learning from his experiences.
If he’s being honest, things haven’t gone to plan for Koroi since leaving school. He was meant to head to Dunedin on a building apprenticeship. He would play rugby down there, of course, but it was important to set himself up for the future.
Since January, Koroi has spent about a week in Dunedin. The building apprenticeship? It’s on hold. He’s a professional athlete now.
‘‘I came down to study but then got called into the New Zealand team so I’ve had to put the studies to the side for a bit,’’ Koroi says.
‘‘I’m loving playing sevens. I guess I’ve made a bit of a name for myself out there in the wide world which is cool.’’
For Koroi, making a name for himself can only be a good thing.
For coaches of the New Zealand Sevens team, it can only mean they will lose their best playmaker next season, all going to plan.
New Zealand Rugby have sat down with Koroi to help plot a course for his rise up the rugby ranks.
The plan, should Koroi continue to deliver, would see him progress from sevens to Mitre 10 Cup for Otago later this year.
Perform well there, and a Super Rugby contract would follow for a speedy, creative wing or fullback.
Take it a step further, and one day Koroi could get the call-up to the All Blacks. It’s something he’d love to achieve.
‘‘I’d love a Super contract but I’m loving the sevens at the moment. I’d be happy to play for