Former USA 7s team player and Arizona Wildcats All American Ryan Matyas is in New Zealand playing 7s with North Harbour.

Matyas, who played with the USA 7s team during the 2013-14 season, made the 30-man North Harbour player pool looking to make the New Zealand regional 7s squad. 

Matyas played this past weekend in the PUC 7s, playing center for the North Harbour team tat finished 3rd.

Matyas hopes to make the tournament lineup for the New Zealand Regional 7s Qualifiers on December 13, and the New Zealand 7s Nationals in mid-January.

“It’s going good,” said the former University of Arizona star. “We are just trying to gel together and find that rhythm. We definitely had glimpses of it this weekend, going 4-2 and beating Northland in the 3rd-4th place match.”

North Harbour is coached by former All Black 7s player Geoff Alley, who is also the current coach for the Philippines national team.

Matyas, for his part, is happy to be playing in a 7s proving ground that has helped several young Americans, not least of which is Todd Clever.