RNZ
A top epidemiologist is urging the International Olympic Committee it s not too late to call the Games off while we hear from Olympic silver medallist Sarah Walker on why the Games must go ahead.
Bring on the Aussies. With New Zealand s sevens teams, the All Blacks sevens and the Black Ferns sevens, returning to the international stage against Australia in an Olympic warm-up event on May 21-23 in Auckland, each takes a major step towards July’s Tokyo Olympics after the Covid-19 pandemic obliterated their calendar last year. Neither team has played an international fixture since the World Sevens Series, which has travel at its core, shut down last March, but the tantalising prospect of an Olympic gold medal is on the horizon, Covid-19 permitting.
Takiwhitu Tūturu rugby sevens, which kicks off in Wellington this morning.
Moana Pasifika will take on two Black Ferns 7s teams in Wellington this weekend.
Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie
The squad includes players with links to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands and co-captain Tysha Ikenasio said it means a lot to represent their Pacific Island heritage. We all have a strong passion for where we ve come from and who comes before us, so I think obviously going into the weekend we ll take all of that, she said. We ve only known each other a short time but we ve all come from ancestors and people in the past that we all represent our own upbringings and families, so I think everyone holds that strong same passion so I think it will be exciting.
Tonga coach Tevita Tu ifua issues instructions at last month s Tailevu Sevens.
Photo: Supplied
The kingdom will play five matches against the All Blacks Sevens and a Fiji Barbarians team in Mount Maunganui as they step up their preparation for the final Olympic Qualification tournament in June.
It s the third straight year Tonga s New Zealand-based squad have tested themselves against the World Series champions and coach Tevita Tu ifua is grateful for the opportunity. It is quite a blessing that we are able to base here in New Zealand with Covid and we have this opportunity, he said. It s a blessing for the group and also for the country as well, especially to have the relationship with New Zaland is quite a great blessing for us prior to the main event.
The second-youngest of five (four boys) in the family, Brady told
Stuff that his father had spent plenty of time teaching him the ropes, particularly the importance of fitness, with a few gnarly stories from years gone by. “It sounded pretty hard out. Nah it probably excited me, to be honest,” Rush said. “He’s always trained me and my brothers. He’s kind of ingrained in us the work ethic to train at this level and I’m pretty grateful for that. But he’s just dad, and I guess any dad would push their kids to be the best they can.”
Northland sevens legend s son, Brady Rush, earns All Blacks Sevens contract
22 Jan, 2021 02:15 AM
3 minutes to read
Brady Rush, seen here with ball in hand for Northland club Mid Northern, is one of three newly contracted players for New Zealand s top sevens teams. Photo / File
Brady Rush, seen here with ball in hand for Northland club Mid Northern, is one of three newly contracted players for New Zealand s top sevens teams. Photo / File
Brady Rush, the son of famed New Zealand sevens star Eric Rush, is one of three new players to earn a national contract.
With the Olympics Games only six months away, the 21-year-old Northlander has been in camp with the All Blacks Sevens for the past week in Mt Maunganui beforetoday s announcement.