Gisborne Boys’ High in sevens action

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

It will be very fast and very hard.

Tomorrow the second Super 8 Schools seven-a-side rugby tournament will be held at Rotorua Boys’ High School, and in terms of athleticism, flair and skill, not much tops it.

Though no Gisborne Boys’ High School team is participating in the under-15 section, first 15 head coach Duane Hihi (assisted by son Carlos, Reihana Wyllie and manager Carmen Hihi) will take the GBHS u18 team.

Gisborne are in Pool A and will take on the titans of Hamilton BHS at 10.15am first up on field 1 at Rotorua BHS, and at 12.20pm are to go again versus New Plymouth BHS.

There is irony in the fact GBHS should face current world 15-a-side champions Hamilton — against whom they fought so hard on Rectory No.1 in a 7-25 loss this season — and later on Day 1 the team they beat 28-24 on August 5, New Plymouth at the Gully, to record Gisborne’s first Super 8

first 15 win in three years.

From 10am tomorrow, games will be streamed live on YouTube by Whakaata Māori and on Sunday that coverage will commence at 10.15am.

On Sunday from 2.15pm, the u15s will be televised by Whakaata Māori with the u18s final also to be televised from 2.30pm.

GISBORNE BOYS’ HIGH TEAM: Kaiaio Kerekere-Tangira (captain), Braith Ingram, Puna Hihi, Luka Russell, Reuben Whaitiri, Jimmy Moore, Luke Bidois, Liam Beattie, Timuaki Stewart, Gibson Poi, David Gray, Brayden Maxwell.