The player who

Two weeks of isolation could turn into months for sevens fullback Ngarohi McGarveyBlack, and the frustration is building. Zoe¨ George reports.

At the foothills of the Urewera mountains in Ruatoki is a hut that is surrounded by lush bush teeming with kereru¯ , tui and ruru.

There New Zealand Sevens fullback Ngarohi McGarveyBlack is in isolation, by himself.

He’s been in lockdown for weeks now and while it’s ‘‘home’’, and a Bay of Plenty paradise place that once housed his great-grand parents, the walls are starting to close in.

‘‘You can’t get out and go for a run. It’s taking a toll on the mind,’’ he said.

There’s only so much wood to be chopped, weights to be lifted, online games to be played and walks that can be taken around his parents’ dairy farm.

While he is by himself, he’s not totally alone. His parents also live on the property and have been helpful in keeping him focused.

‘‘They are making sure I see the big picture and what benefit it has,’’ he said.

‘‘But it’s the little things . . . like driving to your mate’s and saying hello, or even just going up the road to train or going into town to get some food; it’s all different and it’s kind of hard.’’

Isolation has put a dent in McGarvey-Black’s spectacular season on the field.

He was named player of the final in the side’s tournament wins in Cape Town and Hamilton and then followed it up with a successful campaign in Vancouver as the All Black Sevens went to the top of the World Sevens leaderboard.

Preparations were tracking well for Tokyo 2020. Olympic

Gold was in the team’s sight. But everything stalled when the side was forced into isolation after returning from Canada.

They’d played and had beaten Australia in the final, but a cloud settled over the side as the Australians began to be tested for Covid-19. The New Zealand team was given the all clear the day the rest of the country went into isolation.

What was to be only 14 days by himself could now turn into months.

Every day team management are touching base to make sure ‘‘we’re all good’’ and McGarveyBlack has access to sports psychologists and mental skills coaches.

The players are used to mental pressure, representing their country on the world stage.

‘‘That’s the beauty of coming home,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m not an All Blacks Sevens player when I come home. I’m just me.

‘‘No one really puts me on a pedestal. I don’t like being put up on that pedestal.’’

But isolation is harder than representing his country.

‘‘To be honest, I never thought I say that,’’ he said.

‘‘I miss . . . playing rugby with the boys out on the paddock and representing our country in the sport we play.’’

Post-isolation is still