IRB Sevens World Series
New Zealand add stand-out teens to Sevens squad
ESPN Staff
January 22, 2014

Taranaki teenagers Michaela Blyde and Gayle Broughton have been added to the New Zealand women's squad that won the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens, with coach Sean Horan naming 19 contracted players for the 2014 season.

Blyde, 18, and Broughton, 17, showed their potential at the New Zealand National Sevens in Rotorua, where, Horan said, "they proved they've got what it takes to succeed at this level … they were real stand-outs".

Horan said it was especially satisfying to see the way in which New Zealand was building depth in women's Sevens.

"There were some hard calls to make for this squad, but we needed to balance our needs for the World Series this year against our need to have a squad capable of winning [the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro] in 2016."

The New Zealand women's sevens squad assembles in Wellington for a training camp on February 5 before heading overseas for the next two tournaments in the IRB Sevens World Series, in Atlanta on February 15-16 and Sao Paulo on February 21-22.

Squad: Shakira Baker, Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Sarah Goss, Vaine Greig, Honey Hireme, Carla Hohepa, Hayley Hutana, Linda Itunu, Kayla McAlister, Huriana Manuel, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Shiray Tane, Alexis Tapsell, Hazel Tubic, Ruby Tui, Selica Winiata, Portia Woodman.

© AAP

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.