New Zealand Sevens squad named for Hong Kong and Adelaide Tournaments

A 17-man squad has assembled in Mount Maunganui to prepare for the Hong Kong and Adelaide legs of the IRB Sevens World Series.



New Zealand Sevens Coach Gordon Tietjens has had to draw on new talent having been forced to omit seven members of his national squad through injury and unavailability.



The training squad is: Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (Captain, Counties Manukau), Paul Grant (Otago), Luke Hamilton (North Harbour), Joe Hill (Wellington), Nigel Hunt (Bay of Plenty), Solomon King (Bay of Plenty), Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty), Lance McDonald (Bay of Plenty), Jordan Puletua (Auckland), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Julian Savea (Wellington), Ben Souness (Taranaki), Tutu Tairea (Auckland), Pehi Te Whare (Southland), Save Tokula (Waikato), Chad Tuoro (Counties Manukau).



Pehi Te Whare, who is a member of the Highlanders wider training group, and Jordan Puletua are trialling with the Sevens squad for the first time.



Four players were not considered due to injury. They were Edwin Cocker (broken leg), Willie Rickards (hamstring), Tu Umaga Marshall (back) and Viliame Waqaseduadua (concussion).



Meanwhile, national squad member Tim Mikkelson has been called up in to the Chiefs squad, and Auckland’s Tim Nanai Williams and North Harbour’s Nafi Tuitavake have been selected in the training squad for the New Zealand Under 20 team to be announced next week.



The New Zealand squad of 12 will be finalised later this week and leave for Hong Kong on Saturday March 21. The Hong Kong and Adelaide tournaments will both be held over three days on March 27-29 and April 3-5 respectively.