Three Pacific Islands teams will feature in a sevens invitational tournament in Wellington next weekend which ramps up preparations towards the Tokyo Olympics.
The Tonga sevens team played games against two All Blacks Sevens teams in February. Photo: Facebook/Tonga Sevens Rugby
Takiwhitu Tūturu will feature eight men's and women's teams playing across two days at Hataitai Park.
The Tonga and Samoa Invitational sides will take part in the men's tournament alongside two All Blacks Sevens teams, while a Moana Pasifika squad will feature in the women's competition with two Black Ferns Sevens teams and a Black Ferns 15-a-side selection.
The Tongan squad was based in Auckland and would travel down to Wellington with head coach Tevita Tu'ifua on Tuesday.
The kingdom had been playing regularly in various tournaments across the North Island, including five matches against the All Blacks Sevens and a Fiji Barbarians team in February.
The Samoa Invitational team will include players with World Series experience. Photo: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby
Manusina coach Ramsey Tomokino would guide the Samoa men's invitational team. He said the squad would be a mixture of New Zealand-based players, with about half having previous playing experience on the World Sevens Series.
New Zealand Rugby High Performance Sevens Manager, Tony Philp, said with international borders closed it was pleasing to be able to create a high level of competition.
"We are lucky to have really talented sevens players in our country so putting together a tournament like this is key for Olympic preparation."
A Moana Pasifika selection will feature in the women's competition. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2020 www.photosport.nz
The All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens teams would also play a series of exhibition games either side of the Hurricanes v Crusaders Super Rugby match next Sunday.
Tonga and Samoa were scheduled to compete in the final men's Olympic qualifying tournament in Monaco in June, with Samoa and Papua New Guinea to contest the women's event.
Takiwhitu Tūturu schedule:
Friday 9 April
10am Moana Pasifika v Black Ferns Sevens Black
10.30am Black Ferns Sevens White v Black Ferns Invitational
11am All Blacks Sevens White v All Blacks Sevens Black
11.30am Samoa Invitational v Tonga Invitational
2.30pm Moana Pasifika v Black Ferns Sevens White
3pm Black Ferns Sevens Black v Black Ferns Invitational
3.30pm Tonga Invitational v All Blacks Sevens White
4pm All Blacks Sevens Black v Samoa Invitational
Saturday 10 April
10am Black Ferns Invitational v Moana Pasifika
10.30am Black Ferns Sevens Black v Black Ferns Sevens White
11am All Blacks Sevens Black v Tonga Invitational
11.30am Samoa Invitational v All Blacks Sevens White
2.30pm Women's play-offs
3pm Women's play-offs
3.30pm Men's play-offs
4pm Men's play-offs