New Zealand national rugby sevens team

The New Zealand national rugby sevens team competes in the World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens, Summer Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games. They have won a record twelve World Rugby Sevens Series titles. The team has been officially known as the All Blacks Sevens since 1 June 2012.[1]

New Zealand
Nickname(s)All Blacks Sevens
EmblemSilver fern
UnionNew Zealand Rugby Union
Head coachClark Laidlaw
Top scorerTomasi Cama (2,026)
Top try scorerTim Mikkelson (235)
Home stadiumWaikato Stadium
First colours
Second colours
Rugby World Cup Sevens
Appearances6 (First in 1993)
Best resultChampions (2001, 2013, 2018)

The team played for the first time at the 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament. In 1983 it first entered the Hong Kong Sevens, where it has been champion 10 times and runner-up another 10 times.

The All Blacks Sevens are the current Rugby World Cup Sevens, Commonwealth Games and World Series Champions.

History

World Sevens Series

The team has won thirteen of the 21 World Rugby Sevens World Series events. Since 2000 when the series first started, the only times they have not won the series were in 2006 when Fiji were crowned champions, 2009, 2017 and 2018 won by South Africa. 2010 when they came second to Samoa and 2015, 2016 when Fiji won the series back to back and then in 2019 when Fiji won their 4th series title. New Zealand won a Covid-19 affect 2020 series, finishing at the top of the standings after six tournaments.

2007

In the 2006–07 series, it was left until the last round at Murrayfield, Edinburgh, to find out who would win. If Fiji had won their quarter-final against Wales then they would have won the series but they lost 21–14. This meant that New Zealand needed to win the final against Samoa to win the title. With a convincing six tries to one, 34–5 scoreline, they did just that and were crowned champions.[2]

2008

The 2007–08 series saw New Zealand set several records. They became the first team in the nine-year history of the IRB Sevens to have won the first four events of a season, having won the Dubai, South Africa, Wellington and USA tournaments. During the USA Sevens, they broke their own record, set in 2001 and 2002, for most consecutive match wins in the IRB Sevens. The team extended their streak of tournaments won to the first five of the season, and a record seven overall, by defeating South Africa in the final of the 2008 Hong Kong Sevens.[3]

Their record streaks of tournaments won (7) and match wins (47) ended in the final of the Adelaide Sevens with a 15–7 defeat to South Africa.[4] Although they would lose to England in the Cup quarterfinals of the next event, the London Sevens, they won the second-level Plate final, giving them enough points to secure the 2007–08 series crown with one round to spare.[5]

Honours

World Rugby Sevens Series

Rugby World Cup Sevens

Commonwealth Games

Oceania Sevens

World Rugby Sevens Series

New Zealand has won the World Rugby Sevens Series a record 12 times. New Zealand were particularly dominant in the early years of the Series, winning the first six series.

New Zealand national rugby sevens team at the 2009 Hong Kong Sevens
World Series Record
Season Position
1999–00 1st
2000–01 1st
2001–02 1st
2002–03 1st
2003–04 1st
2004–05 1st
2005–06 4th
2006–07 1st
2007–08 1st
2008–09 4th
2009–10 2nd
2010–11 1st
2011–12 1st
2012–13 1st
2013–14 1st
2014–15 3rd
2015–16 3rd
2016–17 4th
2017–18 3rd
2018–19 3rd
2019–20 1st
Total12 Titles/20

Global tournaments

Summer Olympic Games

Rugby World Cup Sevens

World Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W L D
1993 Quarterfinals 7th 8 6 2 0
1997 Semifinals 3rd 4 3 1 0
2001 Final 1st 8 8 0 0
2005 Final 2nd 8 7 1 0
2009 Quarterfinals 5th 4 3 1 0
2013 Final 1st 6 6 0 0
2018 Final 1st 4 4 0 0
Total4 Titles7/7423750

Other international tournaments

Commonwealth Games

New Zealand is the most successful rugby sevens team at the Commonwealth Games. They have won five of the six Commonwealth Games tournaments so far, and finished second once. The team has only once lost a match at the Commonwealth Games — losing to South Africa in the final of the 2014 tournament.

Commonwealth record
Year Round Position Pld W L D
1998 Finals 1st 6 6 0 0
2002 Finals 1st 6 6 0 0
2006 Finals 1st 6 6 0 0
2010 Finals 1st 6 6 0 0
2014 Finals 2nd 6 5 1 0
2018 Finals 1st 5 5 0 0
2022 Schedule to be confirmed
Total5 Titles6/6353410

Oceania Sevens

Oceania record
Year Round Position
2008 None
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014 Finals 2nd
2015 None
2016
2017 Finals 2nd
2018 Finals 2nd
Total0 Titles3/11

Win summaries

Event Venue Cup Plate Bowl Shield
Winner Final Score Runner-up Winner Winner Winner
2019 Sydney Sevens Sydney Showground
New Zealand
21–5
United States

England

Fiji

Argentina
2017 South Africa Sevens Cape Town Stadium
New Zealand
38–14
Argentina

Fiji

Australia

Kenya
2016 Canada Sevens BC Place
New Zealand
19–14
South Africa

Samoa

Canada

Russia
2016 Sydney Sevens Sydney Football Stadium
New Zealand
27–24
Australia

Argentina

Canada

Wales
2016 Wellington Sevens Westpac Stadium
New Zealand
24–21
South Africa

Australia

Samoa

France
2015 Wellington Sevens Westpac Stadium
New Zealand
27–21
England

Fiji

France

Canada
2014 London Sevens Twickenham Stadium
New Zealand
52–33
Australia

South Africa

Canada

United States
2014 Scotland Sevens Scotstoun Stadium
New Zealand
54–7
Canada

England

France

Wales
2014 Hong Kong Sevens Hong Kong Stadium
New Zealand
26–7
England

South Africa

Scotland

Kenya
2014 Wellington Sevens Westpac Stadium
New Zealand
21–0
South Africa

Australia

Kenya

United States
2013 Gold Coast Sevens Robina Stadium
New Zealand
40–19
Australia

Fiji

France

United States
2013 London Sevens Twickenham Stadium
New Zealand
47–12
Australia

Fiji

Wales
2012 South Africa Sevens Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
New Zealand
47–12
France

Wales

Australia

Spain
2012 Scotland Sevens Scotstoun Stadium
New Zealand
29–14
England

Samoa

Russia

Kenya
2012 Wellington Sevens Westpac Stadium
New Zealand
24–7
Fiji

South Africa

Kenya

Scotland
2011 South Africa Sevens Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
New Zealand
31–26
South Africa

Wales

Scotland

Zimbabwe
2011 Adelaide Sevens Adelaide Oval
New Zealand
28–20
South Africa

Wales

United States

Japan
2011 Hong Kong Sevens Hong Kong Stadium
New Zealand
29–17
England

South Africa

Canada

Kenya
2011 New Zealand Sevens Westpac Stadium
New Zealand
29–14
England

Fiji

Kenya

United States
2010 South Africa Sevens Outeniqua Park
New Zealand
22–19
England

South Africa

Scotland

Zimbabwe
2009 South Africa Sevens Outeniqua Park
New Zealand
21 – 12
Fiji

England

Wales

Scotland
2009 Dubai Sevens The Sevens
New Zealand
24 – 12
Samoa

Australia

Wales

Russia
2008 Edinburgh Sevens Murrayfield
New Zealand
24 – 14
England

South Africa

Australia

Portugal
2008 Hong Kong Sevens Hong Kong Stadium
New Zealand
26 – 12
South Africa

France

Russia
2008 USA Sevens Petco Park
New Zealand
27 – 12
South Africa

Fiji

Wales

Australia
2008 USA Sevens Petco Park
New Zealand
27 – 12
South Africa

Fiji

Wales

Australia
2008 Wellington Sevens Westpac Stadium
New Zealand
22 – 7
Samoa

South Africa

England

United States
2007 South Africa Sevens Outeniqua Park
New Zealand
34 – 7
Fiji

Kenya

Wales

Canada
2007 Dubai Sevens Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground
New Zealand
31 – 21
Fiji

Argentina

Australia

Zimbabwe
2007 Edinburgh Sevens Murrayfield
New Zealand
34 – 5
Samoa

Fiji

England

France
2007 London Sevens Twickenham
New Zealand
29 – 7
Fiji

South Africa

England

Kenya
2006 South Africa Sevens Outeniqua Park
New Zealand
24 – 17
South Africa

Wales

Australia

Portugal
2005 Singapore Sevens National Stadium, Singapore
New Zealand
26–5
England

Samoa

France

Chinese Taipei
2005 USA Sevens Petco Park
New Zealand
34–5
Argentina

Fiji

Canada

Tonga
2005 New Zealand Sevens Westpac Stadium
New Zealand
31–7
Argentina

Australia

Kenya

Niue
2004 South Africa Sevens Outeniqua Park
New Zealand
33–19
Fiji

South Africa

Australia

Portugal

There are no fixtures available for 1999–2004

Team

Current squad

Scott Curry (Co-Captain)
Tim Mikkelson (Co-Captain)
Kurt Baker
Caleb Clarke
Dylan Collier
Sam Dickson
Scott Gregory
Trael Joass
Niko Jones
Vilimoni Koroi
Andrew Knewstubb
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
Sione Molia
Etene Nanai-Seturo
Tone Ng Shiu
Amanaki Nicole
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Joe Ravouvou
Salesi Rayasi
Akuila Rokolisoa
Ollie Sapsford
William Warbrick
Regan Ware
Joe Webber
Kitiona Vai

Player records

The following shows leading career New Zealand players based on performance in the World Rugby Sevens Series. Players in bold are still active.

Tries scored[6]
No. Player Tries
1 Tim Mikkelson 235
2 DJ Forbes 153
3 Tomasi Cama 145
4 Kurt Baker 126
5 Sherwin Stowers 126

World Rugby Player of the Year

Several New Zealand players have won or been nominated for the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year award. The following table shows the players who have been nominated for the award at least twice and won the award at least once.

PlayerWinsYearsFinalistYears
Tim Mikkelson1201332011, 2013, 2014
Tomasi Cama Jr.1201222011, 2012
DJ Forbes1200822007, 2008

Former squads

New Zealand team to the 2017 Canada Sevens

The following is the New Zealand roster for the 2017 Canada Sevens tournament:[7]

Head coach: Scott Waldrom

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Matches Points Tries Union
FW Scott Curry (c) (1988-05-17)17 May 1988 (aged 28) 148 410 80 Bay of Plenty
BK Tim Mikkelson (1986-08-13)13 August 1986 (aged 30) 330 959 189 Waikato
FW DJ Forbes (1982-12-15)15 December 1982 (aged 34) 420 737 147 Counties Manukau
BK Sione Molia (1993-09-05)5 September 1993 (aged 23) 55 75 15 Counties Manukau
FW Dylan Collier (1991-04-27)27 April 1991 (aged 25) 96 90 18 Southland
BK Ambrose Curtis (1992-04-17)17 April 1992 (aged 24) 62 190 38 Manawatu
FW Iopu Iopu-Aso (1991-04-01)1 April 1991 (aged 25) 30 25 5 Taranaki
FW Trael Joass (1993-05-12)12 May 1993 (aged 23) 10 5 1 Tasman
BK Vilimoni Koroi (1998-04-17)17 April 1998 (aged 18) 15 26 2 Otago
BK Sherwin Stowers (1986-05-19)19 May 1986 (aged 30) 177 616 122 Counties Manukau
BK Isaac Te Tamaki (1995-02-20)20 February 1995 (aged 22) 41 47 7 Waikato
BK Beaudein Waaka (1993-01-27)27 January 1993 (aged 24) 52 223 13 Taranaki

Thirteenth player: Andrew Knewstubb Tasman

Travelling reserve: Tone Ng Shiu Tasman

New Zealand team to the 2016 Summer Olympics

The following is the New Zealand roster in the men's rugby sevens tournament of the 2016 Summer Olympics.[8]

Head coach: Gordon Tietjens

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Events Points Union
1 FW Scott Curry (c) (1988-05-17)17 May 1988 (aged 28) 31 360 Bay of Plenty
2 BK Tim Mikkelson (1986-08-13)13 August 1986 (aged 29) 62 882 Waikato
3 FW Akira Ioane (1995-06-16)16 June 1995 (aged 21) 9 77 Blues
4 FW DJ Forbes (1982-12-15)15 December 1982 (aged 33) 79 687 Counties Manukau
5 BK Lewis Ormond (1994-02-05)5 February 1994 (aged 22) 8 82 Taranaki
6 BK Augustine Pulu (1990-01-04)4 January 1990 (aged 26) 6 45 Blues
7 FW Sam Dickson (1989-10-28)28 October 1989 (aged 26) 29 232 Canterbury
8 BK Gillies Kaka (1990-05-28)28 May 1990 (aged 26) 30 721 Hawke's Bay
9 BK Regan Ware (1994-08-07)7 August 1994 (aged 21) 9 85 Bay of Plenty
10 BK Rieko Ioane (1997-03-18)18 March 1997 (aged 19) 10 265 Blues
11 BK Joe Webber (1993-08-27)27 August 1993 (aged 22) 23 357 Bay of Plenty
12 BK Sonny Bill Williams (1985-08-03)3 August 1985 (aged 31) 6 20 Blues
13 BK Sione Molia (1993-09-05)5 September 1993 (aged 22) 6 35 Counties Manukau

Coaches

See also

References

  1. allblacks.com (1 June 2012). "AllBlacks name extended to NZSevens and NZMaori". Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. "NZ Sevens on top of the world". Television New Zealand. Newstalk ZB. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  3. "New Zealand maintain Series dominance in USA" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 10 February 2008. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  4. "South Africa halt kiwi winning streak" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 6 April 2008. Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  5. "Samoa win London Sevens as NZ clinch Series" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 25 May 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
  6. World Rugby website, current as of 15 March 2020
  7. http://www.allblacks.com/News/30479/all-blacks-sevens-team-for-vancouver-tournament-named
  8. "Historic first for Rugby Sevens as 24 athletes named for Olympic Games". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
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