NZ sevens rugby

A review of the January tournament is still being carried out, but in all likelihood it will be moved to another city or New Zealand may be dropped from the international sevens circuit altogether.

Organisers struggled to sell a third of the tickets for the tournament this year and while he wouldn't reveal the size of the loss, the chief executive of New Zealand Rugby Steve Tew says it has led to a sobering re-think about the tournament's future.

The hosts 24-17 with two minutes left before Rieko Ioane crossed for two tries in the dying moments to seal a 27-24 fightback win.

The result lifts the New Zealanders to level on points with Fiji and South Africa at the top of the World Series standings after four events.

Williams is joined by three other rookies in Counties Manukau pair, Josh Van Lieshout and Sione Molia, and Hawke’s Bay’s Billy Ropiha who all impressed at the Bayleys National Sevens in Rotorua last weekend.

Van Lieshout and Sione Molia helped Counties Manukau to a first Bayley National Sevens title since 1995 after a stunning 54-14 victory over North Harbour in Sunday’s final.

For New Zealand, the Dubai Sevens was one those tournaments. By the end of the second day of the opening round, head coach Sir Gordon Tietjens had lost five key players. Captain Scott Curry (dislocated shoulder), Gillies Kaka (ankle), Tim Mikkelson (concussion), Sherwin Stowers (broken arm) and Regan Ware (ankle) have all flown home. To say Dubai was attritional is an understatement.