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Former FRN 7s Player Joins NZ Sevens squad

billyWe are thrilled to announce that former Find Rugby Now 7s player, Billy Ropiha, has been selected to join the New Zealand Sevens squad to prepare for the Wellington round of the World Series.

Ropiha will be joining the team along with Sonny Bill Williams and two other rookies, Josh Van Lieshout and Sione Molia, in their preparations for Wellington.

Ropiha, who hails from Hawke’s Bay, played for the Find Rugby Now invitational sevens team in the summer of 2012 on several occasions whilst he was visiting the UK.

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Ropiha (top center) with FRN squad at the FRN 7s Tournament 2012

Coach Gordon Tietjens has brought in the new players following last weekend’s national sevens championship in Rotoruahad.

There is nothing that we love to see more than our players succeeding on the big stage.

Find Rugby Now 7s team manager, Ellaine Gelman, said:

“Billy was a tremendous player and a great guy. He had great pace and his size made him unstoppable. We wish Billy all the best.”

Abhijit Dev_83The team to play Wellington Sevens will be named on Monday and the squad to travel to Australia for the Sydney Sevens will be named on February 1.

New Zealand Sevens squad for Wellington: Kurt Baker (Taranaki), Dylan Collier (Waikato), Sam Dickson (Canterbury), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Gillies Kaka (Hawke’s Bay), Antonio Kiri Kiri (Manawatu), Ben Lam (Auckland), Josh Van Lieshout (Counties Manukau), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Sione Molia (Counties Manukau), Lewis Ormond (Taranaki), Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau), Billy Ropiha (Hawke’s Bay), Ardie Savea (Wellington), Teddy Stanaway (Bay of Plenty), Isaac Te Aute (Bay of Plenty), Isaac Te Tamaki (Waikato), Beaudein Waaka (Taranaki), Regan Ware (Waikato), Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau), Joe Webber (Waikato).

Do you want to play for the FRN 7s invitational team?

If you are a male of female rugby player looking to play more 7s at a good standard this summer, please get in touch with us at sevens@findrugbynow.com to get more information about trials, tournament dates, etc.


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