Rugby: Sevens heaven for Ngarohi McGarvey-Black

Ngarohi McGarvey-Black has wanted to play sevens for New Zealand since he was little kid running around barefoot on frosty Saturday mornings in Rotorua.

Now the dream has become a reality after he was named in the All Blacks Sevens squad to travel to the next two rounds of the HSBC World Series in Las Vegas and Vancouver.

McGarvey-Black, 21, is the only newcomer in the team named by coach Clarke Laidlaw with Dylan Collier, Trael Joass and Andrew Knewstubb all returning from injury.

"It is just unreal to be in an environment like this. It is a dream come true really. I always thought sevens was my main goal before fifteens just because of the space you have in sevens," McGarvey-Black said.

"That is what I like and what I try to base my game around is trying to create space or see space."

McGarvey-Black said he did not have to look far for inspiration to play sevens growing up in Rotorua.

"Obviously Gordon Tietjens was at Rotorua Boys' and there was a good sevens culture at the school as well as fifteens. It was my main goal even when I was little at primary school and the New Zealand Sevens boys used to come around and talk about playing sevens and travelling around the world.

"That is something I have always dreamed of."

The mention of going to Las Vegas and Vancouver brings a big, wide smile to his face.

"It is emotional and exciting and nervous, a bit of everything at the moment. I still can't believe it and am still trying to soak it in.

"I just have to keep learning off the older boys and keep taking in what we are taught and do at trainings. I just have to back myself more and be confident in why (Laidlaw) chose me."

Laidlaw said McGarvey-Black was brought into the All Blacks Sevens squad after a strong showing at the Bayleys National Sevens in January and he has continued to impress.

"Ngarohi has been on the radar since he was at Rotorua Boys' (High School). I saw him for the first time at regionals last year and he turned heads that day and he stood out for Bay of Plenty at nationals," Laidlaw said.

"We believe he can play anywhere in the backline which gives us some flexibility in the squad and it will be a great experience for him to be in the group for the next two weeks."

Laidlaw said having a fully fit squad to pick from made for some tough decisions.

"This is the hardest squad I have had to pick so far. All our players have performed well this season. When we are leaving out players like Teddy Stanaway, Luke Masirewa, Kurt Baker and Tone Ng Shiu it shows the strength and depth we are building."

He said while the Commonwealth Games is fast approaching, the focus is firmly on producing good results over the next two weeks.

"The goal is to win. Commonwealth Games is just around the corner but we're not resting players for that, we are going as strong as we can, and we want to win."

+
All Blacks Sevens squad US, Canada

Dylan Collier, Scott Curry, Sam Dickson, Trael Joass, Andrew Knewstubb, Vilimoni Koroi, Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Joe Ravouvou, Regan Ware, Joe Webber