PR7s Has Fingerprints All Over Hong Kong SVNS

The prestigious Hong Kong 7s is just around the corner, and Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s) has a significant influence on one of the biggest tournaments in the sport. More than two dozen players competing in Hong Kong have PR7s experience, underscoring the league’s role in developing top-tier talent.

Rising Stars: Ulu Niutupuivaha’s Journey

One of the newest players making his mark is Ulu Niutupuivaha, whose selection for the USA squad was driven in large part by his development in PR7s. USA Head Coach Simon Amor emphasized how Niutupuivaha’s growth over the past two years prepared him for the international stage.

Niutupuivaha brings a powerful, physical presence to the game, which is becoming increasingly vital at the highest levels of competition. Amor reflected on his progress:

“Oh, yeah, yeah, no. So all the guys, they’ve got to earn their rights to get on. And he wasn’t fit enough. But there was also some basic game understanding and understanding, particularly for him, what his strengths were and how he needs to play the game, because you don’t want to have a system where the player can’t play to their strengths. The idea is to go, ‘What is this great stuff that he can do? He can produce on the field for his national team, right? How can the system fit him?’ So, first and foremost, you’ve got to be aware of what your strengths are.

“We talk about him going through contact, offloading, making himself a bit of a physical menace and stuff like that,” said Amor. “And then it’s about connecting with each other. So he’s worked really hard at his game, he’s knuckled down, and I’m excited about what he can do. He’ll make some mistakes in Hong Kong. He’ll make some mistakes in Singapore. But he’ll do some good stuff as well, and with a little bit of resilience and support, he’ll come through, and he could be a great player for USA Rugby.”

PR7s Pipeline to USA Women’s Team

On the women’s side, PR7s has been a critical stepping stone for several top USA players. Three standouts from Life University—Spiff Sedrick, Autumn Locicero, and Su Adegoke—have all benefited from PR7s as they transitioned to the national team.

Sedrick, an experienced player and Olympic hero, has openly credited PR7s for helping her earn a spot with USA Rugby. Locicero, a Sorensen Award nominee (Sedrick won in 2020), and Adegoke, the 2023 Prusmack Award winner as the nation’s top collegiate 7s player, followed similar paths.

While Life University is known for its high-performance program, these players recognized that PR7s provided the crucial next step—competing against experienced professionals in a structured, high-level environment. That experience is now evident as Adegoke, a breakout speedster, and Locicero, a versatile workhorse, continue earning more minutes for the Eagles.

International Impact: Manaia Nuku

PR7s’ influence extends beyond the USA. Take Manaia Nuku, a standout for the Black Ferns. In 2022, she was not a major factor in the New Zealand national team setup. That changed when she joined PR7s in 2023, playing for the New York Locals and earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. Since then, she has become a key player for New Zealand, proving that PR7s offers a valuable platform for emerging talent to break through.

As the Hong Kong 7s kicks off, PR7s alumni will be on full display, demonstrating how the league helps shape the future of international rugby.

PR7s Players at Hong Kong SVNS

USA Women: