Disappointing end to sevens campaign

The three Rarotonga based rugby sevens players Clive Nicholas, Turori Matutu and Sailosi Nagi will return home disappointed with the way their Wellington sevens campaign panned out at the weekend.

But they will return to proud local supporters who feel the trio were the standout players for the Cook Islands squad.

The Cooks lost all three of their pool play matches – 31-12 against Wales, 21-17 against England and 19-14 against the USA.

The Cooks only win was against PNG, 22-10 in the cup quarter finals before losing to Tonga 12-7 in the bowl semi finals.

The Cook Islands Rugby Union now looks ahead to the Adelaide sevens and if earlier plans remain – the Cook Islands sevens squad will be made up predominantly of players based in Rarotonga.

The Cooks now mark two disappointing Wellington sevens campaigns after recording the countries best ever result in 2009 winning the bowl.

In the same year – the Cooks failed to qualify for the 2010 tournament and the weekend’s performance is sure to have the CIRU wondering where it has all gone wrong.

But the idea of a full local based squad to play in the Adelaide leg of the Sevens World Series is sure to be supported by local sevens supporters.