Sevens: Morrow faces fight for spot

Sean Horan has included new cap Morgan Morrow in his 16-player New Zealand sevens squad. Photo / File

Bay of Plenty's Morgan Morrow is set to battle it out on home soil for a place in the New Zealand women's sevens team for the opening tournament of the IRB Women's Sevens World Series in Dubai next month.

The fullback has been named in a 16-player squad to assemble for a short camp, beginning Sunday ahead of the team naming next Tuesday.

She was selected on the back of a strong performance in the final week of the new Women's Sevens Series competition held in Taupo alongside fellow first-timers in 16-year-old Hamilton Girls' High School sensation Tenika Willison and Kiwi Fern Charlotte Scanlan.

Coach Sean Horan lauded the introduction of the new women's series which follows the geographical boundaries of Super Rugby.

"This new Women's Sevens Series has been an excellent opportunity to look at a lot of players in a compacted tournament environment, and many of the girls took their opportunity to really press for a place at this camp," Horan said.

"Charlotte and Morgan are experienced players in league and touch respectively. Both players were on our long list of identified talent, but they played so well during this series, they forced us to take a closer look at them, which is why we're taking them into camp next week.

"Tenika is a dynamite talent, and at 16 she's still too young to play for us, but we definitely see her as good enough to start introducing her to our high performance environment.

"Next week will be important preparation time for Dubai - it's the first time this particular group has been together so it's important we get everyone on the same page quickly."

New Zealand women's sevens squad
Kelly Brazier (Otago), Gayle Broughton (Taranaki), Sarah Goss (Manawatu), Keshia Grant (Canterbury), Carla Hohepa (Waikato), Morgan Morrow (Bay of Plenty), Tyla Nathan-Wong (Auckland), Charlotte Scanlan (Auckland), Shiray Tane (Waikato), Alexis Tapsell (Canterbury), Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau), Ruby Tui (Canterbury), Jordan Webber (Waikato), Tenika Willison (Waikato), Selica Winiata (Manawatu), Portia Woodman (Auckland).