The Southern Storm is destined to become the first South
Island side to play in the Cook Islands Sevens tournament
when it takes the field next week at the event dubbed The
Sevens in Heaven.
The team, made up of players from the Central and South Otago
club competitions, has been pooled with local sides
Avatiu/Nikau Rugby and Titikavika and will play its first
match on day one of the tournament, scheduled to start on
Friday.
Other New Zealand sides attending include a Hastings-based
side and a team from the College Rifles club in Auckland.
Three women's teams will also feature.
The Southern Storm was formed as the result of a joke between
player-coach Dan Iosefo and his fiance, Queenstown sports
massage therapist Rebecca Whyte, who has been involved in the
event previously.
And after legendry Cook Islands sevens player Koiatu Koiatu
saw the Otago Country side play in the Queenstown sevens
earlier this year, he put in a recommendation and an
invitation was extended.
Iosefo, who has played in many national sevens tournaments,
approached some of his Arrowtown and Otago Country team-mates
and the dream was realised.
The side also includes Arrowtown's Aiden Winter and Daniel
Dodds, Matakanui's Mitchell Lake, Upper Clutha's Ben Purvis
and South Otago duo Lex Kaleca and Matt Faddes.
Sending the team to the Cook Islands was a challenge
financially, with Whyte and her organisational team putting
in a huge effort, including organising an evening with All
Black Leila Masaga earlier in the year.
The tournament will officially open on Thursday with a
luncheon for all sides, during which New Zealand sevens great
Eric Rush will address the players.
The tournament has extra significance this year, as it will
be celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The tournament concludes on Saturday evening with an official
closing function.
The team: Dan Iosefo, Aiden Winter, Mitchell Lake, Tane Puki,
Kapa Moeke, Drew Carmody, Todd Adolph, Daniel Eyles, Daniel
Dodds, Iain Banks, Ben Purvis, Lex Keleca, Mike Evans, Matt
Faddes.
