A new era of professional sevens rugby in New Zealand is officially here as All Blacks Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw introduces new talent, rejuvenates experienced legs and unveils a new home base for the squad.
This week marks the official start of a newly centralised sevens programme, based at the University of Waikato Adams Centre For High Performance at Mount Maunganui. All contracted All Blacks Sevens players are now required to live near their base in the Bay of Plenty.
Laidlaw said a permanent, centralised base for the squad would provide countless benefits as they embark on their new era.
"Previously players would spend anywhere between 150-170 nights a year away from home. Centralisation will reduce this by up to 50 nights a year, delivering more time together but less time away from the important support networks of family and loved ones."
With more than half of the 2017/18 squad finalised, Laidlaw has confirmed Bailey Simonsson (Bay of Plenty), and Jona Nareki (Otago) among the new talent contracted for the 2017/2018 international season.