Linley MacKenzie
Connacht have added another speedster to their backs with the signature of Fijian Sevu Reece.
The 21-year-old, who can play across the back line, but prefers the wing, is expected to see out the season with Waikato in their Mitre 10 Cup campaign- the final of which is scheduled for October.
Reece was singled out as a potential international while at Victoria School (QVS ) in Fiji, and moved to New Zealand under a partnership agreement with Hamilton Boys' High School in 2015. On the schools' winning Super 8 side that year, he was selected on the NZ Secondary Schools side, before signing with local Waikato club Melville on a development contract after graduating. That season he helped the club win the Breweries Shield for the first time in 35 years, finishing as the club's top points scorer. As a result he was called into Waikato Mire 10 Cup side.
Reece came to international attention when he was the youngest player to be named in the Provincial Barbarians side which opened the Lions tour last season, before again featuring in Waikato Mitre 10 Cup in which he made more offloads (29 ) than any other player in the competition and also made the fourth most breaks (22 ).
Reece is now eligible to play for Fiji, New Zealand or Ireland. He never featured on the NZ U20s due to rule which states scholarship holders must wait three years after finishing school before they are eligible to represent the country.
Galway Bay Rugby
Galway Bay Rugby Club is hosting its summer barbecue on Saturday June 9 jointly with NUIG Academy RFC. Tickets are €15 each or €25 for two and can be purchased on www.galwaybayrugbyclub.ie
Rockhall selected
Well known basketballer Claire Rockall from Maree, has been named on the Ireland senior women's final roster for the forthcoming Women's European Championship for Small Countries. Rockall, who plays with Ambassador UCC Glanmire, is one of several experienced senior internationals named in the squad which heads to Poland for preparation games.
Ireland will play in Group B at the championships – which will run from June 26 to July 1 at the Mardyke Arena UCC – facing the challenges of Luxembourg, Norway and Cyprus. Reigning champions Malta, who pipped Ireland to the gold medal in 2016, will also compete, and will contest Group A alongside Gibraltar, Moldova and Denmark.
