Komaisavai top try-scorer as Wellington 7s finish second in Auckland

A new star and a new front of jersey sponsor have emerged from the Wellington men's representative sevens team's first tournament of the season. 

Wellington's men's sevens team were pipped 33-29 by Bay of Plenty in the final of the Auckland 7s, but didn't walk away empty handed after two days at the Northcote Rugby Club.

Rongotai College first XV play-maker Esi Komaisavai finished as the tournament's leading try scorer, dotting down seven times during Wellington's six matches to announce his arrival on the representative scene.

Komaisavai was one of two school boys in the Wellington squad along with St Pats Town's Billy Proctor, who also stood out over the weekend.

Wellington captain Hayden Schrijvers was also named player of the tournament, and to top things off the New Zealand Institute of Sport announced they would be growing their partnership with Wellington Rugby by becoming the team's front of jersey sponsor for the rest of the season.

NZIS already provides academic scholarships to Wellington Rugby Academy players and through their rugby programmes help prepare and develop players for potential professional careers.

With head coach Sam Rasch unavailable over the weekend, the Wellington team was mentored by James Porter and excelled on day one with wins over eventual winners Bay of Plenty (17-14), Harbour East (26-12) and Northcote (14-0).

On day two Wellington beat Harbour West 26-12 in the quarterfinals, then overwhelmed Counties-Manukau 32-12 to book a rematch with Bay of Plenty in the final.

Wellington are back in action on December 3 with a training camp in Picton where they will play practice matches against  Tasman and Canterbury, before heading to the nationals central regions qualifying tournament  in Levin on December 10.

The Wellington women's sevens team suffered a similar fate to the men in finishing second in Auckland, also losing their key match to Bay of Plenty.

Ories speedster Ayesha Leti-l'iga finshed the women's tournament as the top try scorer with seven as Wellington beat Northland (38-5), North Harbour (17-0) and Counties-Manukau (21-0), but lost narrowly to eventual winners Bay of Plenty (17-14). 

The women’s performances were particularly pleasing considering the unavailability of a number of players and the late withdrawal of senior player Jackie Patea.

The team will be back in action at the central regions nationals qualifying tournament in Levin on December 10. 

The full Wellington Men's Sevens squad at the Auckland 7s was:

Daniel Schrijvers, Hayden Schrijvers, Salesi Rayasi, Matt Peni, Joketane Koroi, Vern Sosefo, Esi Komaisavai, Billy Proctor, Aukuso Tuitama, Max Pearson, Fereti Soloa, Tafa Tafa, Willie Shutz, Randall Bishop. 

The Wellington's Men's Sevens upcoming sevens schedule is:

December 3: Picton training camp and matches against Tasman and Canterbury

December 10: Representative Regional Qualifiers, Levin. (Broadcast live on Sky Sport)

January 7: Mt Mauganui Sevens and Rotorua training camp

January 14-15: National Sevens, Rotorua. (Broadcast live on Sky Sport)