Howick College’s girls’ sevens team will head to the Condor 7s. Photo supplied
Howick College’s Senior Girls’ Rugby Sevens team capped off a stellar performance at the recent Auckland Secondary Schools Rugby Sevens Tournament, finishing undefeated and claiming the title with a 32-12 victory over Auckland Girls’ Grammar in the final.
This success has booked them a spot at the Condor National Secondary Schools Rugby Sevens Tournament set to take place in Tauranga from December 8-10.
Howick College has an impressive track record at the Condors sevens tournament, where they claimed the title in 2018 and 2020 and finished as runners-up in 2019 and 2023.
The school is already on a high after their girl’s first XV won the Auckland championship and qualified for a regional champions tournament.
In a release, the school said the Seven’s teams’ achievement reflected the growing strength and depth of girls’ rugby at Howick College, where interest and skill development in the sport have surged.
Coach Waisake Sotutu credited the school’s robust rugby culture for fostering a high level of talent and team spirit.
He also noted that their success was even more impressive considering they went into the competition without taking part in any warm-up tournaments or games.
“Due to the lateness of the fifteens season, the girls hadn’t played any sevens rugby prior to this tournament; our best preparation came from an intense training match against our Howick Old Girls, who currently play for the top Women’s Sevens club in Auckland,” he says.
Despite some challenges, Howick’s players demonstrated remarkable skill and resilience. The squad saw six members sustain injuries in recent representative games, while two younger players faced their first tournament.
Three key players – Charlie Lindsay, Avah Sila, and Unuhia Crosby-Te Whare – took the field just a week after winning the NZSS National Netball Crown, directly transitioning from an intense netball season into the demands of a sevens tournament.
“All the stars aligned for us when it mattered most,” says Sotutu, reflecting on the team’s top pool finish and a solid semi-final win over Epsom Girls, which allowed for some strategic player rotation ahead of the final.
In the decider, co-captains Asha Taumoepeau-Williams and Keana Farani led from the front, setting the tone for the team’s attack and defence.
Senior players Marica Tukana, Charli Taituha, and Malena Lavea delivered consistent efforts on both sides of the ball, while Year 9 player Dejah Vaitai made a big impression with a 50-metre runaway try in her first-ever sevens tournament.
Sotutu praised the team’s adaptability and determination, highlighting the players’ commitment to each other and the game.
With the nationals now just a month away, their senior girls are looking to carry their Auckland form onto the national stage to bring home the trophy for the third time.
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