New Zealand Sevens Coach Gordon Tietjens today named his 12-man squad for the NZI Sevens tournament in Wellington this weekend.
Tietjens named an experienced line-up for the third tournament of the 2008/2009 IRB Sevens Series, with only one potential debutant amongst the group – Save Tokula from Waikato. Bay of Plenty’s Solomon King was not considered for the tournament due to injury.
“This team was one the hardest teams I have ever had to select as the training camps were extremely competitive. Lots of the boys put up there hands for positions and selection proved extremely difficult,” Tietjens said.
The squad will be captained by IRB and New Zealand Sevens Player of the Year DJ Forbes. Forbes has also been named as the New Zealand Sevens squad captain for the remainder of the 2008/2009 IRB World Sevens Series.
New Zealand goes into this tournament in second place behind competition leaders South Africa.
“Wellington is a huge tournament for the team and the boys really want to do the fans proud and bring home the win. We are looking for improvement from our first two tournaments to put the pressure on South Africa who are currently in the lead.”
Following the NZI Sevens, the New Zealand team travel to the USA for the San Diego tournament (14-15 February), the fourth stop in the current IRB Sevens World Series.
2009 New Zealand Sevens squad: Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Edwin Cocker (Auckland), DJ Forbes (Captain, Counties Manukau), Paul Grant (Otago), Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty), Tim Nanai Williams (Counties Manukau), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Save Tokula (Waikato), Nafi Tuitavake (North Harbour), Tu Umaga Marshall (Wellington), Viliame Waqaseduadua (North Harbour).
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