The New Zealand Sevens rugby team had a great training break in the country’s sunshine capital last week – and a chance to enjoy New Zealand’s best beach.
Before departing for the last two rounds of the Sevens World Series in the UK, the 19-member team spent three days based at Ōhope, enduring one of Coach Gordon Tietjens’ legendary, torrid training camps.
All Blacks Sevens Manager Ross Everiss says the camp provided a chance to assess player fitness and prepare for the tournaments which should see the Champions clinch their 11th world title.
“We’ve done this a number of times in the past and we keep coming back to Ōhope and Whakatāne because the area provides a great environment. Staying right beside a fantastic beach gives training sessions a laid-back feel even though we’re working really hard,” he says. “The team always enjoys the relaxed Eastern Bay atmosphere and the weather is the icing on the cake.”
Mr Everiss says the country is blessed with many great beaches, but in his and the team’s eyes, “Ōhope is right at the top”.
During their stay, Whakatāne District Council Promotions Officer Nicola Burgess took the opportunity to share the news about the sunshine capital/best beach accolades, entrusting the trophies to the sure hands of the world’s best sevens rugby team.
“The trophies are available to any local business or organisation which would like to display them for a short period of time and right now you can see them at the Ohope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park,” she says. “We also have a poster for any businesses which would like to mount a display and anyone who would like a copy, or wants to book in a time to display the trophies, can call me at the Council.”
As part of a series of promotions planned this year, an on-line campaign on the NZ Herald website has attracted close to 600 entries for a weekend in the sunshine capital, staying at the best beach. The campaign has been supported by Ōhope Beach Resort, Ōhope Top 10 Holiday Park, White Island Tours, Mataatua Wharenui and the Ōhope Golf Club.