Fehi Fineanganofo joins All Blacks Sevens success story
Fehi Fineanganofo becomes the latest All Black
Fehi Fineanganofo is the latest example of a player progressing from the All Blacks Sevens to the All Blacks, earning national selection just two years after representing New Zealand in sevens at the Olympic Games.
We take a look at the last seven players to graduate from the All Blacks Sevens to international Test rugby.
Fineanganofo arrived in the Bay of Plenty after injuries curtailed his development following a standout school career with Auckland Grammar School. He made his All Blacks Sevens debut in a trial tournament in Wellington ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games and went on to make his World Series debut in Los Angeles in 2023. His trademark explosive running game quickly caught attention, and former All Blacks Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw signed him to join the Hurricanes. The rest, as they say, is history.
Leroy Carter's rapid rise from Sevens to the All Blacks
Just a year earlier, Leroy Carter was setting Super Rugby alight with his electric pace, relentless work ethic and attacking flair. It came as no surprise to sevens fans. Carter had previously been nominated for World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year after commanding performances in the sevens midfield. He scored a try on debut for the All Blacks in Wellington in 2025 and went on to play six Tests in his first season in black.
Caleb Clarke: A powerful pathway from Sevens to Test rugby
Ironically, Carter's initial elevation to the All Blacks came as injury cover for Caleb Clarke, another graduate of the All Blacks Sevens programme. Clarke was less than two months out of Mount Albert Grammar School when he made his international debut on home soil in Hamilton in 2018. His power, pace and aerial ability made him perfectly suited to the sevens game, and only illness prevented him from being part of New Zealand's gold medal-winning Commonwealth Games campaign.
Rieko Ioane's journey from Wellington Sevens to international stardom
Rieko Ioane was another Auckland schoolboy star whose rise included a stint in the black jersey on the sevens circuit. Within months of finishing at Auckland Grammar, he was representing New Zealand at the Wellington Sevens. He made an immediate impact, scoring 265 points across 10 tournaments while helping New Zealand win a Commonwealth Games silver medal and representing his country at the Rio Olympics. After just two years in the programme, Ioane signed with the Blues in 2016 and made his All Blacks debut later that year, scoring against Italy on debut.
Akira Ioane's route through the All Blacks Sevens programme
He followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Akira Ioane, who debuted for the All Blacks Sevens in Wellington in 2014. Akira was part of a side that won four of five World Series tournaments on the way to claiming the overall title. He later played alongside Rieko at both the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games. After five seasons with the Blues, Akira earned his All Blacks debut in 2020.
Waisake Naholo's Sevens success before Rugby World Cup selection
Before becoming a Highlanders cult hero, Waisake Naholo was making his mark on the sevens circuit around the world. Following standout performances for Whanganui and Taranaki in domestic rugby, Naholo was called into the All Blacks Sevens programme and debuted in Las Vegas in 2012. New Zealand won back-to-back World Series titles during his two seasons in black before Naholo moved into Super Rugby. It was a blockbusting debut season with the Highlanders, helping the franchise secure its maiden Super Rugby title, that ultimately earned him selection for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Ardie Savea: From All Blacks Sevens to All Blacks captain
While this week marked a special moment for Fineanganofo with his first All Blacks selection, it was also significant for another All Blacks Sevens alumnus. Ardie Savea, who debuted on the World Series circuit in 2012, was named All Blacks captain for 2026. Savea joined the Hurricanes in 2013 and returned to the sevens programme for two further tournaments during the build-up to the Rio Olympics. However, his call-up to the All Blacks in 2016 ultimately ended his sevens ambitions.
From Savea and the Ioane brothers to Clarke, Carter and now Fineanganofo, the All Blacks Sevens programme continues to provide a unique pathway for some of New Zealand rugby's most exciting talent. While the formats may differ, the speed, skill and adaptability required on the sevens stage continue to prepare players for success at the highest level of the game.
