Bring on Dubai! New Zealand Women’s Sevens team ready to defend title
The New Zealand Women’s Sevens team kick off their 2013/2014 World Series campaign and have their sights on defending their Dubai Sevens tournament title, later today.
As New Zealand prepares to open their campaign against Fiji late tonight (NZT), Coach Sean Horan said the squad had trained well after arriving in hot dry conditions in Dubai this week.
“As the week has progressed it’s got hotter and hotter, and it’s been hard training for the girls, but they have trained extremely well and they are excited to get started.
“Dubai is a really cool tournament and it’s a special event – a real festival of Sevens. We’re looking forward to getting the tournament under way, and to defending our title. We’re expecting other countries to come out fighting on the back of the first World Series and World Cup but we’re up for this.
“We have some clear goals to deliver on our game plan, to get our processes right and to focus on a critical few priorities.
“Winning in Dubai last year was an amazing experience and this tournament is an important stepping stone for our season,” he said.
This weekend will be the first World Series tournament for 18-year-olds Hayley Hutana and Shiray Tane and 22-year-old Black Fern Hazel Tubic.
“All three girls have spent a lot of time in the squad environment but this is their first World Series tournament and I know they are itching to get out there and get to work,” he said.
The Sevens ‘sisters’ will play against Fiji, Ireland and USA tonight.
All IRB Women’s Sevens World Series matches will be streamed live on http://wsws.irb.com
Dubai Sevens match schedule:
Thursday 28 November
1:44pm (10:40pm NZT), NZ v Fiji Pitch 1
4.42pm (1:42am NZT), NZ v Ireland Pitch 1
8:02pm (5:02am NZT), NZ v USA Pitch 1
Friday 30 November – Finals day
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