Sevens: Big future for home-town star

Isaac Te Aute (with ball) in action against Waikato last weekend during a provincial sevens tournament at Mount Maunganui. Photo / Andrew Warner

After a whirlwind year in 2015, young rugby star Isaac Te Aute is fit and ready for another big year ahead starting with the Bayleys National Sevens in Rotorua.

Te Aute led the Rotorua Boys' High School 1st XV to a national title last year, playing at first-five and fullback, before signing with the All Blacks Sevens and Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.

The 19-year-old will run out for the Bay of Plenty men's team at the national sevens tournament this weekend in Rotorua, bringing plenty of sevens knowledge to the side following his experience with the All Blacks Sevens squad this season.

Te Aute, who is originally from Te Puke, said he was feeling strong again after picking up a hamstring strain last month and was looking forward to running out for the Bay.

"[The hamstring] is pretty much back to full strength now and I'm just happy to be back out there," he said. "I'm back living in Te Puke now but I'm definitely excited to be heading back to Rotorua again, as it is pretty much my hometown as well."

Te Aute said the Bay sevens team had plenty of good young players this season, which was a good sign for the province. He said he had considered signing with Tasman at the end of last year but it was an easy decision in the end to sign with his home province.

"My family is here, good rugby is here, sevens is here, so I'm happy to be at home," he said. "I was contemplating to go down there [to Tasman] but it's a bit far to go with sevens ... so it was a pretty easy decision."

Te Aute will continue training with the All Blacks Sevens team, who are based in Mount Maunganui, this season while competing for a spot in their playing side for up-coming HSBC Sevens World Series events. He is also in contention to make Sir Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand team heading to the Olympics in August.

He said getting signed to the All Blacks Sevens squad straight out of high school was a dream come true.

"I was over the moon, coming straight out of school into a sevens contract, it's what I dreamed of and I'm just happy and pleased that I have done that," he said. "Trainings are pretty hard, but you just have to keep doing it, and that is what makes us one of the best teams in the world."

Alongside his sevens aspirations, Te Aute said he would also like to play for the Steamers if and when the opportunity arose.

"That's the goal for the 15s, hopefully get a crack at playing for the Steamers. And I just want to keep enjoying it really."

Bay of Plenty's Teddy Stanaway also represents the All Blacks Sevens team and will most likely play for the province this weekend.

The national sevens will see the top 16 men's provinces and top 10 women's provinces from across the country competing at the Rotorua International Stadium.

The Bay men's side are in a pool with Auckland, Northland, and South Canterbury. The top two sides in the pool, following matches on Saturday, will go into the Cup playoffs on Sunday.

The Bay women's team did not qualify for the tournament.