No let-up for New Zealand ladies

Horan expects success on all stages despite Olympic priorities

New Zealand women’s team, winners of both last years Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens and the HSBC Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series, will be looking to reclaim both titles when they kick the season off here today.

Despite using this series to experiment and prepare for next summer’s Olympics, Kiwi ladies coach Sean Horan said there was no drop in expectations this season.

“We are Kiwis, it’s not in our psyche [to let up], we want to get better everyday and we will work on our game and hope that the bigger things look after themselves,” he said of his side.

The New Zealand women’s team have won all three women’s World Series, two Dubai crowns and one World Cup, and have dominated the game as much as their men’s equivalent sevens side led by coach Gordon Tietjens, who have won a record 12 World Series, six Dubai titles and two World Cups.

“It is part of our psyche and it’s been going a long time,” Horan added of his country’s will to succeed in all forms of rugby.

“The All Blacks created this and it’s been going 20-odd years and is bred in all of us — male and female — to embrace the game.

“Whether you play for the men’s or women’s team you have the same responsibility when you pull on that All Blacks jersey.

“We don’t have red blood; we have black blood coursing through our veins and that means we have to uphold standards. Everyday we want to get better and be part of that legacy. Every young boy or girl aspires to wear the jersey, it’s like a coat of armour, it’s part of our country.

“The pressure is constantly there,” he added. “I don’t think it’s any different on any other team. We are put in a position to perform and we love to guide what we’ve got.

“For us it’s about a process and being confident with the way we do things though, the bigger picture stuff is achieved step-by-step.”

Kiwis are both Dubai and World Series defending champions