Ignite7 squads announced as Sevens showcase returns to Tauranga

The Ignite7 men's and women's competitions will each include four teams with the Surge, Power, Inferno and Bolt squads featuring 96 of New Zealand’s most promising Sevens athletes.

Alongside the Ignite7 action, the New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa men's international sides will play a series of matches between them over the weekend. 

All matches will be live streamed on New Zealand Rugby’s YouTube channel. Admission is free with the first matches kicking off at 10.00am on both days and the respective men’s and women’s finals at 1.08pm and 1.56pm on Sunday. 

Among the women’s squads are nine members of the New Zealand Under 21 fifteens squad, as well as two current Black Ferns in halfback Maia Davis and loose forward Amarante Sititi, as well as established Black Ferns Sevens star Alena Saili.  

Additionally, Keelah Bodle and Te Pumanawa o Toku Ate Rogers all recently played for the New Zealand Women’s Development squad team at the Mount Maunganui Sevens. 

The men’s squads feature 13 players who took the field during the Hilux NPC as well as Triumph Voice who represented the New Zealand Men’s Development squad at the Mount Maunganui Sevens. 

The coaching staff are also full of stars with the women’s teams’ coaching staff including former Black Ferns Sevens Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Bolt), Kristina Sue (Inferno) and Theresa Setefano.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) National Pathways Head Coach Kane Jury leads the men’s Inferno team, while former Waikato, Chiefs and Māori All Blacks player Dwayne Sweeney is coaching the Power team. 

NZR High Performance Talent Identification Manager PJ Williams said the tournament was a great platform for players to progress in the pathway. 

“The squads are brimming with quality players and this is a great chance for them to show what they can do in a high pressure tournament environment. We’ve been tracking a lot of these players for some time, through the Global Youth Sevens, Condors and other teams, so we know there is huge potential across the women’s and men’s squads.” 

NZR Women's High Performance Pathways Manager Kendra Cocksedge said the event had proven over time how effective it was in unearthing new women’s rugby talent. 

“There is a long list of players who have launched their careers through Ignite7 either in Sevens or into our fifteen’s teams at senior level. For young players it can be a real test of character and a huge confidence booster as they progress in the pathway.” 

Evidence of that includes 2026 Black Ferns Elinor-Plum King (Manawatū/Hurricanes) who was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year this week, and halfback Tara Turner (Counties Manukau/Blues) who played 10 Tests during her breakout season. 

From 2025 ignite Riley Williams, Sam Clarke graduated to the All Blacks Sevens this year and will be joined by Brayden Neilson, Waisake Salabiau and Nathan Salmon in the New Zealand men’s squad for this year’s international fixtures. 

The 2026 Ignite7 women’s squads are: 

The Ignite7 tournament draw is: 

The teams 

Ignite7 Men: Surge, Power, Inferno, Bolt 

Ignite7 Women: Surge, Power, Inferno, Bolt 

National Men: New Zealand Development, Fiji, Samoa 

Day one: Saturday 7 November 2026: 

Day two: Sunday 8 November 2026:

All times are local. Semi-final seedings are based on final round robin standings. Draw subject to change.