Trial squad for NZ Rugby World Cup Sevens named

Trial squad for Rugby World Cup Sevens named

All Blacks Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has named the squad to trial for the team that will compete in Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 in Moscow in late June.

The squad, which will assemble in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday 4 June for a three day trial, is:

• Pita Ahki (North Harbour)
• Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty)
• Kurt Baker (Taranaki)
• Tomasi Cama (Manawatu)
• Scott Curry (Manawatu)
• Sam Dickson (Canterbury)
• DJ  Forbes (Counties Manukau)
• Bryce  Heem (Tasman)
• Gillies  Kaka (Hawke's Bay)
• Rocky Khan (Auckland)
• Fritz Lee (Counties Manukau)
• Tim  Mikkelson (Waikato)
• Waisake  Naholo (Taranaki)
• Patrick Osborne (Canterbury)
• Lote  Raikabula (Wellington)
• David  Raikuna (North Harbour)
• Trinity Spooner-Neera (Hawke's Bay)
• Sherwin Stowers (Counties Manukau)
• Belgium Tuatagaloa (Canterbury)

The squad includes 14 players who took part in the 2012/13 HSBC Sevens World Series. Ben Lam was not considered because of injury.

“We've called on a core group of players who excelled during the recent series as well as others who have played in previous seasons," said Gordon Tietjens. 

“We have also been able to include three players from Investec Super Rugby teams and one from a wider training group. Three of these men have played well for the All Blacks Sevens before.”

“Competition for the final 12 places will be tough and it won’t be an easy decision. The World Cup only comes around once every four years so it’s one tournament every sevens player really wants to play in. We haven’t won since 2001 so we certainly have our sights on doing well in Moscow.

“It’s also a really important step in our journey to Rio in 2016 so we will be working hard to make sure our preparation is right and that our players have the physical and mental toughness to do well in a pinnacle event.” RWC7s team naming 7 June

The All Blacks Sevens team for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013, along with the New Zealand Women’s Sevens team, will be named at a media event at Eden Park, Auckland at 12.30pm, Friday 7 June.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 takes place in Moscow 28-30 June. For the full match schedule click here.

its a real shame to see lam hasnt recovered from his broken foot, the last i heard was he was going to be ready come the 7sWC, but it dosent look like thats going to happen and thats a huge loss.

we do have DJ back though, and while the years are catching up, he still has massive contributions and he also knows that he might not be here come rio, so this is prob his last tournament outside of the world 7s sereis,a swansong of sorts, so hopefully hes going to play out of his skin.

the real key player is gilles kaka, that dude is NZs best 7s player since eric rush, he has the same playmaking x factor that sereli, cecil afrika and rush all have, but hes quicker.
i rate kaka a lot, even more then long time 7s servant cama who has started to get on my nerves lately, hes just way too slow.
tiejens needs to bench him 2 or 3 mins after halftime every game, that way it keeps him fresher in the tournament longer, while also putting on fresher and faster legs.

NZ 7s team i want to see,,,

1 gillies kaka
2 tim mickelson
3 belgium tuatagaloa
4 dj forbes
5 lote raikabula
6 tomasi cama
7 kurt baker

but sherwin stowers must come on just after half time and replace cama.