US-based rugby coach Adriaan Ferris says it s an honour to be asked to lead the Tonga men s sevens team at next month s Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Monaco.
The Tonga Rugby Union announced last month that players and staff based in New Zealand and Tonga would not be considered for selection because of the ongoing risks associated with Covid-19, with regular coach Tevita Tu ifua also remaining in New Zealand.
A New Zealand-based squad has been training under Tevita Tu ifua for the past three years.
Photo: Supplied
Adriaan Ferris, of Ngāti Porou, is a former Northland NPC coach where he crossed paths with a number of Tongan players, including Fetu u Vainikolo and Taniela Moa.
US based rugby coach Adriaan Ferris will lead the Tonga men s sevens team at next month s Final Olympic Qualification Tournament in Monaco.
Former Northland rugby coach Adriaan Ferris will coach Tonga at the Final Olympic Qualification Tournament in Monaco.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Athletic Director of the Life West Gladiators in California was a part of the coaching staff when Tonga reached the semi finals of the Wellington Sevens in 2008.
He also helped coach the kingdom at the 2013 Sevens World Cup and was an Ikale Tahi assistant coach in 2014.
A squad of New Zealand based players has been training under head coach Tevita Tu ifua for the past three years, which formed the core of teams that have competed in the men s Oceania Sevens Championship, World Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Tonga is among 10 teams vying for the final men s qualifying berth in Tokyo.
Photo: Supplied
The Tonga Rugby Union announced last month it would only select players based in Europe for the qualifying tournament in Monaco, because of travel difficulties caused by Covid-19.
Tonga men s sevens coach Tevita Tu ifua said an initial list of 43 names had been trimmed to 23, which includes two ex All Blacks and a former Wallaby. We have got a few (high profile) names pop up and we still need to rank our priorities list and then we work from there to finalise our selection, he said.
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