Te Puke score NZ finals spot
For Te Puke’s rugby players, the Condor Sevens will be an experience they are unlikely to forget.
For their coach Jackson Reuben-swinton, it’s a return to a tournament where he has had success before.
The Condor Sevens are the national secondary schools sevens finals, held in Auckland.
Te Puke didn’t gain an automatic qualifying spot at the Bay of Plenty secondary schools’ sevens tournament, but has been offered a wildcard spot in the event.
Jackson played in the Wesley College side that won the tournament in 1993.
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union’s secondary schools rugby manager Ian Parata says he was approached by the national tournament organisers to nominate teams to fill wildcard spots. He suggested Te Puke and Tauranga Boys’ College after Rotorua Boys’ and Western Heights High Schools had claimed Bay of Plenty’s two automatic qualifying places.
“The Bay of Plenty has one of the hardest qualifying pools simply because not many other regions have two Super 8 teams in their region.
Western Heights came second and Tauranga Boys’ were beaten by them, so that shows the quality of our co-ed teams.
“[Te Puke] have performed really well all season and they topped one pool [at the Bay sevens] and were third equal.
“They are a good team, Jax is a good coach, they’ve got a great sports programme out there and they were keen to take the opportunity.”
Jackson says the team has been in training for around four weeks in case an opportunity arose, and had a couple of games against Tauranga Boys’ College last Friday.
He says he believes the team is good enough for the tournament.
“I just think it tops off the year for us to be recognised like this.”
The team will be looking for sponsorship for players for the Condor Sevens, held at Sacred Heart College in Auckland between November 29 and December 2.
‘ They are a good team, Jax is a good coach, they’ve got a great sports programme out there ’ and they were keen to take the opportunity.
IAN PARATA BOP Rugby Union secondary schools manager on Te Puke’s wildcard spot at the Condor Sevens