Lahmert brothers meet in sevens pool play

He’ll be gunning for his brother — but he’ll have to catch him first. Sibling rivalry will be put to the test when at the Central Zones Sevens Tournament in Levin tomorrow when Aaron Lahmert’s Horowhenua-Ka¯ piti team meet Taranaki in pool play.

The 27-year-old (pictured) from Waikanae will be up against his older brother and former New Zealand and England representative Warwick, 31, who is playing for Taranaki at this tournament.

It’s the first time the Lahmert brothers have met at provincial level and the banter has been going to and fro all week through their family chat space on social media.

“I’ve been winding him up. When I get the ball I’ll be running at him,” he said. “He’s smaller than me but definitely got all the class. I should be able to catch him though.”

The younger brother, who plays at loose forward in 15-a-side rugby, was fresh from a stint with the NZ Heartland XV representative team so won’t lack fitness.

For the HK team its a rare crack at the big boys and with five qualifying spots for the national tournament up for grabs, it could be a race between the Heartland unions for the last berth.

With heavyweights Wellington, Taranaki, Manawatu¯ , Hawkes Bay favoured to make a podium finish, it would be a race between Wairarapa Bush, Wanganui, Poverty Bay and HK to see who also qualified.

The national sevens tournament would be held in Tauranga on the weekend of December 15 and 16. It was the fourth year in succession that Levin had hosted the tournament and Lahmert said having it on home soil was a big advantage.

The Horowhenua-Ka¯ piti team will be co-captained by Lahmert and Randall Bishop.

They share a pool with Taranaki, Manawatu¯ and Wairarapa Bush.

There would also be a women’s tournament at the same time with teams from Wellington, Manawatu¯ , Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki entered.

HKRU community rugby assistant Cameron Prouting said it was a goal of the union to have a women’s team represent Horowhenua-Ka¯ piti in that division in the future.

Horowhenua-Ka¯ piti: 4 Jacob Smith, 5 Faleulu Matua, 6 Mannasah Wineera, 7 Aaron Lahmert, 8 Treden Winterburn, 9 Ethan Reti, 10 Randall Bishop, 11 Tommy Fifita-Tovo, 12

Thomas Barnsley, 13 Kaden Van Gaalen, 14 Stewart Macgregor, 15 Willie Paia’aua. Coach: Ash Drake. Asst Coach: Michael Tambour. Manager: Mark Tooman. Asst Manager: Michael Stokes. Physio: Lizzie Nelson.