Southlander Alena Saili, who played last week for the Otago women’s sevens team at the national tournament, has been named in this year’s national sevens squad.
Saili has just finished her education at Southland Girls’ High School, and did enough when playing for the Otago side to be picked for the national squad.
She is also a national age group touch player.Saili is one of eight new players named in the squad which will make up the New Zealand team to contest sevens tournaments around the world.
Lyric Faleafaga and Crystal Mayes have been named in the team but only as training partners.
Former Otago back Kelly Brazier has been selected for the team after an excellent performance at the national tournament for Bay of Plenty. Saili was a barnstormer for Otago last week and only joined the Otago team as Southland did not have a side at the tournament.
Otago made it to the quarterfinals but fell to eventual winner Counties-Manukau. Saili was a key part of the Southland Girls’ High School team which won the top four first XV tournament last year.
Sarah Goss has been named as the captain of the squad and the team’s first tournament is in Sydney early next month.
The men’s team for the Wellington tournament will be named today.
NZ sevens
Squad
Sarah Goss, Shakira Baker, Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Rebekah Cordero-Tufuga, Lyric Faleafaga, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Crystal Mayes, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Heyelle Robins-Reti, Alena Saili, Terina Te Tamaki, Ruby Tui, Stacey Waaka, Katarina Whata-Simpkins, Renee Wickliffe, Niall Williams, Tenika Willison, Portia Woodman.