Matatū set to make their Global Youth Sevens debut
Matatū, the South Island women’s professional rugby club that competes in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition, have entered a team in the Global Youth Sevens for the first time this year.
And they’re expecting their 14-strong squad, drawn from Southland to Tasman to be competitive against emerging female sevens talent from around the world at Dilworth School in Auckland from December 19-21.
Matatū head of rugby, Whitney Hansen, said Global Youth Sevens was a chance for their young wāhine to test themselves on a world stage, represent their region with pride, and take the next step in their rugby journey.
Matatū may yet lose a couple of players to the New Zealand squad, but the overall calibre of their players and coaches is strong.
“We are coming to this tournament with the hopes of providing an epic experience for young athletes in the Matatū pathway,” Hansen said. “We are looking forward to showcasing the talent from the south and creating another connection to a growing pathway for young athletes at what we know is going to be an exceptional event.”
Matatū’s Global Youth Sevens squad features a number of second-generation rugby players, including Mika Lene, daughter of Black Fern Stacey Lene. Her older sister Kevannah Lene recently competed in the Ignite Sevens after being identified at the New Zealand Rugby National Combine.
Madison Flutey, daughter of British Lion and Black Ferns assistant coach Riki Flutey, was originally named in the Matatū squad but has since been selected for an England U21 camp which will now rule her out for the Global Youth Sevens. However that provides an opportunity for Canterbury’s Avalea Maxwell to join the travelling team
Another squad member is Poppy Baxter, daughter of former Canterbury Farah Palmer Cup coach, Blair Baxter (also assisting with Matatū’s coaching), and she played seven games for Canterbury this year.
The Matatū squad also features a host of cross-code dual provincial representatives, such as Sualo Lafoga (Parramatta Eels U18), Metua Cranwell, Dormay Laufiso and Maxwell (Canterbury U18 league), Indy Gibson (Canterbury AFL), Tayla Richards (Nelson touch U18 and U21) and Baxter (Canterbury U18 touch).
Key players for Matatū will be Baxter, Gibson, Lene and Richards.
Meanwhile Matatū see sevens as a key part of their rugby development pathway, and last weekend (November 7) hosted their own one-day sevens tournament at Prebbleton, attracting an impressive 20 teams. Christchurch Girls High won the U18 division, while feedback was extremely positive, and a further tournament is planned again next year.
