Veteran Scott Curry, Regan Ware set for 3rd Olympics as New Zealand 7s unveil teams

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New Zealand 7s teams for the Paris Olympics next month with a blend of Olympic experience and youthful excitement.

Nine players will make their Olympic debut, while 15 athletes return, aiming for another medal-winning performance.

New Zealand 7s men’s

Veterans Scott Curry and Regan Ware are set for their third Olympic Games, joining Dylan Collier among the most experienced players on the team.

Six players return from the Tokyo squad that won silver, including Leroy Carter, Tepaea Cook-Savage, Fehi Fineanganofo, Moses Leo, Akuila Rokolisoa, and Brady Rush, who are all heading to their first Olympics.

“Selections are always tough,” said Head Coach Tomasi Cama. “We’ve had to make a lot of big calls throughout the year, which created healthy competition within the squad and made our job really hard as coaches. We have a few players who haven’t been to an Olympic Games before, and we want to take that energy to enjoy the occasion. Instead of taking the hurt of the last one, we need to be excited about the opportunity to be the first men’s sevens team to win gold for New Zealand.”

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The women’s team is headlined by the remarkable comeback of Sarah Hirini, who recovered from an ACL injury sustained in December last year. Head Coach Cory Sweeney highlighted Hirini’s dedication, naming her for her third Olympic Games alongside Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Theresa Setefano, and Tyla King. Four players—Jazmin Felix-Hotham, Manaia Nuku, Mahina Paul, and Jorja Miller—will make their Olympic debut.

“Every Olympic cycle has its theme, and this time round we want to stamp our mark on history,” said Sweeney. “We have players who have been here for 12 years, and it’s highly likely it might be their last tournament.

On the other end, we have some players living out a childhood dream being named for the first time, so we need to channel those emotions.”

NZOC CEO Nicki Nicol extended her congratulations to the athletes. “We’re thrilled to have two really exciting and experienced rugby sevens teams named for the Paris Olympics,” said Nicol. “We have a proud history in sevens at the Olympics, and we look forward to watching these teams add to that legacy in just over a month in Paris.”

Both teams will depart for France in early July for a training camp before heading to Paris. The men’s team will kick off the Olympics on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony, with the women’s team taking the field on July 28.

The New Zealand 7s Men’s Rugby team is:
Leroy Carter
Dylan Collier
Tepaea Cook-Savage
Scott Curry
Fehi Fineanganofo
Andrew Knewstubb
Moses Leo
Ngarohi McGarvey-Black
Tone Ng Shiu
Akuila Rokolisoa
Brady Rush
Regan Ware

Travelling reserves: Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia, Joe Webber

The New Zealand Women’s Rugby Sevens team is:

Michaela Blyde
Jazmin Felix-Hotham
Sarah Hirini
Tyla King
Jorja Miller
Manaia Nuku
Mahina Paul
Risaleeana Pouri-Lane
Alena Saili
Theresa Setefano
Stacey Waaka
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe

Traveling reserves: Tyhsa Ikenasio, Tenika Willison, Kelsey Teneti.