Skill levels from youngster to star in Otago’s Ignite sevens selections

A YOUNGSTER, a rising star and an established star will represent Otago at the women’s Ignite sevens.

Promising Queenstown teenager Olive Watherston has been selected for the tournament, alongside Otago Spirit players Rosie Kelly and Maia Joseph.

Ignite sevens brings together 52 players from around New Zealand, both established stars and potential new talent, with an eye towards strengthening the national teams.

They are drafted in four teams and will play a televised tournament on December 5 and 6 in Tauranga.

Watherston, a year 11 pupil at Wakatipu High School, was the notable player from the South to make the jump.

As a 15yearold she played for the Otago under18 team last year, while also being in the under15 sevens team and attending this year’s Highlanders under18 development camp.

Her defensive abilities, distribution and vision have all been highly touted.

Meanwhile Kelly has been one of the Spirit’s stars at first fiveeighth over the past few years and has played for the Black Ferns development team.

Joseph, a year 13 pupil at Columba College, and daughter of former All Black Jamie Joseph, broke into the Spirit squad this year as a halfback and has impressed with her performances so far.

The group of 52 players also includes all contracted Black Ferns Sevens players.

Coaches Alan Bunting and Cory Sweeney believed it had potential to be a high level tournament.

‘‘We believe with the players who have been selected that this tournament has the potential to be world class,’’ Sweeney said.

‘‘Many of these players were involved in the Farah Palmer Cup which was a great competition this year,’’ Sweeney said.

‘‘We look forward to them stepping things up a notch as they turn their focus to sevens and ultimately the preparation for next year’s Olympics.

‘‘It’s quite unique that the pressure now turns to the captains who will have the difficult task of picking their teams at the draft.’’