Scott Gregory returns to All Blacks Sevens eight years after Dubai debut

Scott Gregory is back in the All Blacks Sevens setup eight years after he first pulled on the jersey as a 19-year-old, helping New Zealand beat the USA 21-5 in the 2018 Dubai Cup final. The 27-year-old versatile back, who has played 20 NPC matches for Southland after spells with Northland, the Highlanders, and Italian side Zebre Parma, was part of the squad that won in Dubai again in November 2025 — the programme’s first Dubai title since that 2018 triumph.

The All Blacks Sevens finished third in the 2018/19 SVNS series, and the programme replicated that league standing this season. Their campaign since the Dubai win has been uneven, with a best result of third place in Singapore in January, where Southland teammate Michael Manson scored the winning try in a 14-12 bronze-medal playoff victory over South Africa. South Africa has since won four consecutive tournaments.

Gregory sees a sport that has grown considerably more structured since his debut. “Sevens has definitely become more technical on both attack and defence,” he said. “There’s still a lot of intuitive play and speed, but teams are more patterned now, set pieces are more vital, and defences are better. There is so little time to recover. Mistakes happen quickly and can hurt. You have to adapt or move on quickly; otherwise, you are in trouble.”

On the team’s ambitions, Gregory is clear-eyed about the balance between process and outcome. “Our goal is always to win. To do that, we have to focus on the process. If you are outcome-driven all the time, that can be daunting, especially for the young fellas. If we stick to our processes and control what we can control, the result will take care of itself.”

He reserved particular praise for the programme’s emerging talent. “Kele Lasaqa, Frank Vaenuku, Riley Williams — these guys are so talented and will benefit from more experience. It’s about following the process and giving them the confidence to express themselves.”

Gregory also reflected warmly on former All Blacks Sevens head coach Clark Laidlaw, who gave him his first professional opportunity and has since moved to the Hurricanes, where he has recorded 32 wins from 44 Super Rugby Pacific matches and back-to-back minor Premierships. “Clark’s a top man, the first coach who gave me an opportunity at a professional level,” Gregory said. “His attention to detail is awesome. He’s got an ability to really gel a team.”

Gregory’s own journey began at Whangārei Boys’ High School, where he represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools side that beat Australia and Fiji in 2016. A national age-group champion in the hammer and discus, he went on to play 36 games for Northland between 2018 and 2021 before joining the Highlanders, where he made 33 appearances across three seasons.