All Blacks Sevens stars past and present set to light up NPC round one

All Blacks Sevens ace Codemeru Vai will debut for Auckland on Thursday night when they host Waikato at Eden Park in the opening match of the 2025 NPC season. Nine current HSBC SVNS Series stars from New Zealand have been named to play in round one across eight teams.

Vai is one of two debutants in Auckland’s starting side, named on the right wing. Another current All Blacks Sevens ace in Xavier Tito-Harris will line up on the left wing, while former sevens representative Payton Spencer completes a talented outside backs trio at fullback.

Che Clarke is another talent to watch, with the Paris Olympian starting at blindside. While they aren’t sevens players, other dangermen for the Aucklanders include captain Anton Segner, Xavi Taele at outside centre, and AJ Lam at inside centre.

Celebrated coach Alan Zondagh speaks to @king365ed about the direction the game is going in

Celebrated coach Alan Zondagh speaks to @king365ed about the direction the game is going in

 

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Auckland have a tough task ahead of them to start the campaign, with a star-studded Waikato side coming to town, hopeful that they can start their season on the right note. Aaron Cruden starts at first five-eighth, while Lima Sopoaga provides cover off the bench.

2024/25 SVNS Series rookie Ollie Mathis has been named at openside flanker, despite having finished last season on the wing for Waikato. Tepaea Cook-Savage is another one to watch, with the playmaker last representing New Zealand in sevens at the Paris Games.

In the second game of the round, Manawatu host North Harbour on Friday. There are no current sevens players representing the Turbos this season, but North Harbour have Sofai Maka starting on the left wing.

Moving on to Saturday, when three matches will be played, playmaker Andrew Knewstubb has been named on the bench for Canterbury ahead of their clash with the defending champions – travelling to Jerry Collins Stadium in Porirua to face Brad Shields’ Wellington.

There are no current All Blacks Sevens players in either Southland, Otago or Taranaki’s squads, but Northland have selected Brady Rush on their bench for their clash with the Bulls at New Plymouth’s Yarrow Stadium.

Australian Reesjan Pasitoa has been named to debut for Northland at inside centre after leaving the Western Force, and Lachie Hooper debuts at blindside flanker after recently representing the ACT Brumbies for the first time against the British & Irish Lions.

Bay of Plenty have one of the more sevens-heavy lineups of the round, with Ngarohi McGarvey-Black set to wear No. 23 off the bench. Former World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year nominee Leroy Carter has been named at outside centre, after impressing for the Chiefs last season.

Former All Blacks Sevens ace Fehi Fineanganofo starts at inside centre. Frank Vaenuku is also in the Steamers’ squad for the 2025 season, but the New Zealand U20 representative has not been selected in the 23 for round one.

The Bay are set to host Tasman at Tauranga Domain, with the Mako including two-time Olympian Tone Ng Shiu on their bench. Tasman have named a star-studded backline featuring Super Rugby Pacific big guns Timoci Tavatavanawai and Kyren Taumoefolau.

In the final match of the round between Hawkes Bay and Counties Manukau, there is one current SVNS Series player on show. Sione Molia will come off the bench for Counties, while former sevens star Etene Nanai-Seturo starts at fullback.

 

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NPC Round One

Auckland vs Waikato on Thursday

Manawatu vs North Harbour on Friday

Wellington vs Canterbury on Saturday

Southland vs Otago on Saturday

Taranaki vs Northland on Saturday

Bay of Plenty vs Tasman on Sunday

Hawkes Bay vs Counties Manukau on Sunday

Current All Blacks Sevens representatives in NPC squads

Auckland

Codemeru Vai

Kitiona Vai

Xavier Tito-Harris

Bay of Plenty

Frank Vaenuku

Ngarohi McGarvey-Black

Canterbury

Andrew Knewstubb

Counties Manukau

Sione Molia

North Harbour

Sofai Maka

Northland

Brady Rush

Rob Rush

Tasman

Jack Gray

Tone Ng Shiu

Waikato

Oli Mathis