The New Zealand Sevens squad assembles at Mt Maunganui on today for a four-day training camp in preparation for the upcoming IRB Sevens World Series tournaments in Hong Kong and Adelaide.
Gordon Tietjens has the same contracted core of players from which to select his final travelling line-up and has issued a challenge to the squad of 17. "I want them to make it as difficult as possible for me to select the final squad of 12 for these two tournaments," he said.
Tietjens is famous for his gruelling regimes in a sport that requires ultimate physical fitness and that is again set to play a major role in his selection process.
"Even though we have had a long break since the Steinlager USA Sevens in San Diego in February, I expect the players to turn up conditioned and at the fitness levels required to be in contention for selection," he added.
The squad of 12 for the tournaments in Hong Kong from 30 March–1 April and Adelaide 7–8 April will be named at the conclusion of the camp.
New Zealand Sevens squad: Charles Baxter (Bay of Plenty), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Edwin Cocker (Auckland), Aden Dewes (Northland), DJ Forbes (Auckland), Jarek Goebel (Auckland), Jason Hona (Bay of Plenty), Nigel Hunt (Wellington), Tafai Ioasa (Hawke's Bay, captain), Solomon King (Bay of Plenty), Zar Lawrence (North Harbour), Afeleke Pelenise (Tasman), Lote Raikabula (Hawke's Bay), Willie Rickards (Southland), Nick Thomson (Canterbury), Scott Waldrom (Taranaki) and Steven Yates (Canterbury)
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Source: www.irbsevens.com
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