Star in the Making

Twenty-year-old Declan O’Donnell scored a hat trick of tries for New Zealand in the Wellington final of the IRB Sevens World Series helping the team beat England 29-14. “If I see a star in the making I see one there,” New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said of O’Donnell, as his side won their home tournament for the fifth time. O’Donnell has played centre, wing and fullback for his club Te Rapa since leaving Hamilton Boys’ High School. The win put New Zealand level with England at the head of the table after three rounds with 64 points, 12 clear of defending champions Samoa. The next round of the Sevens World Series is in Las Vegas on February 12-13.