Neu: 2002-02-28 Contents of this issue:
======================================================================== February 28th, 2002 IRB Seedings: Niue's national XV rugby side will become truly international at the end of this season. The side is playing in the current Oceania competitions to establish ranking in Pacific rugby and on the IRB world list. Niue entered the international sevens scene in 2001 when it played in the Wellington world series and had its inaugural XV match against the Cook Islands and Tahiti last year. Coach Steve McCoy, who manages his father's service station in Alofi, said Niue is likely to face Tahiti, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands in the latest pool matches to establish seedings for future games. He's had about 20 players on Niue under strict training since last December along with a similar number of Niuean players in Auckland and Wellington who are in club and provincial sides. " We are all on the same training schedule," said McCoy who has a database to assist him with selection. This season he hopes to include more than four overseas based players who participated in last year's international matches. "Niue is at a build-up stage and we are targeting under 19 and under 21 players to develop for future world cup qualifying rounds," McCoy told Radio New Zealand international. The IRB pays the Niue Rugby Union about $40,000 a year for rugby development but the local union has to contribute to international matches with funds for accommodation and meals. __END__
