Rome Falls To Aotearoa Maori

AOTEAROA MAORI WOMEN’S RUGBY 7’s

SIX-TIME WinnerS
women’s championship hong kong
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2007

TEAM OF THE YEAR – Maori Sports Awards

MEDIA RELEASE
09 June 2010

Rome Falls To Aotearoa Maori

The ‘shoestring champions’, Aotearoa Maori Women’s 7’s team, lived up to their star billing and top seeding when they emphatically took out the Roma 7’s final, against France, in Italy on the weekend.

Aotearoa Maori progressed to the final after crushing Russia 47-0 and a gutsy win over Spain in pool play on Friday.

The semi-final victory against Italy was played in a scorching 31°C on Saturday afternoon and this set the scene for an Aotearoa Maori vs France final at 10.40pm that evening.

“The extreme heat on both days made things very difficult for our players”, said Aotearoa Maori Women’s coach Peter Joseph. “However, this is a very impressive and talented group of young Maori women who I believe are the absolute best 7’s exponents in the World at this time”, he said.

The final against France was played in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd that were very supportive of both teams but in particular Aotearoa Maori who had made a huge impression from the moment they arrived in Rome.

“It was great to have such a tremendous win over the French National team but more important was how the team performed throughout the whole tournament and how well they were received”, said Peter Joseph. “The players have had the media swarming over them since they arrived and have featured on National TV as well as internationally throughout Europe”, he said. “These young women are great ambassadors for their country, family, and culture”.

The team arrive back in New Zealand later this week. One player took ill in Rome and has had to remain there in hospital.

ENDS

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