The All Black Sevens will head to North America without their head coach, Tomasi Cama, due to visa complications.
New Zealand Rugby announced on Tuesday that Cama will not join the squad for the Vancouver and New York legs of the World Sevens Series, with the team departing today. Officials said Cama’s visa application could not be processed in time for travel, leading to his absence from the trip.
Cama, who took on the role of head coach in August 2023 after a long and storied rugby career, remains a celebrated figure in New Zealand rugby. During his on-field career, he played in 128 tournaments for the national team and earned the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year award in 2012.
In Cama’s absence, assistant coach Willie Rickards will assume head coaching duties for the two stops, with Scott Curry serving as his assistant.
The Vancouver Sevens will run from Sunday to Monday, followed by the New York event on the 14th and 15th of this month. The New Zealand team is placed in Pool A at Vancouver Sevens, alongside South Africa, Spain, and Great Britain.
