The following is a Media Release from New Zealand Rugby.
All Blacks Sevens–Olympic Games trial squad confirmed
The All Blacks Sevens ‘A’ squad for the last two legs of the HSBC Sevens Series in Paris (May 13-15) and London (May 21-22) begins training in Mt Maunganui.
- The squad is:
- Pita Ahki (North Harbour)
Kurt Baker (Taranaki)
Dylan Collier (Waikato)
Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty) Non playing member
DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau)
Akira Ioane (Auckland)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
Gillies Kaka (Hawke’s Bay)
Liam Messam (Waikato)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)
Sione Molia (Counties Manukau)
Lewis Ormond (Taranaki)
Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau)
Teddy Stanaway (Bay of Plenty)
Regan Ware (Waikato)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau)
Not considered because of injury; Sam Dickson, Ben Lam, Joe Webber.
All sixteen players will travel to Europe on Saturday as part of preparations for the Olympic Games in August. The squad includes injured captain Scott Curry who will train with the squad, but not play in the tournaments.
In mid-June, all 16 players will take part in trials for the New Zealand Olympic sevens team which will be named by the New Zealand Olympic Committee in early July.
All Blacks Sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens said Dickson and Webber were still in the frame for selection, depending on their progress with injuries. The door also remained opened for others in the event of injuries to squad members. “We’re taking 16 to Europe, so we can share the workload and give all players the opportunity to make the final team so to that end, so we’ll be using a different 12 for both Paris and for London.
“It’s a very experienced group coupled with an exciting core of young players who are tasting sevens for the first time this season, so it’s great that we can take a larger group then normal away to these two tournaments as we build towards Rio.”
New Zealand has been drawn in Pool A in Paris, alongside Singapore Sevens winners Kenya, Portugal and Russia. The team is currently third in the season standings behind South Africa and series leader, Fiji.
Note: The men’s sevens are in camp at the same time as the New Zealand Women’s Sevens squad, which is preparing for the last tournament of the Women’s Sevens Series in Clermont-Ferrand (28-29 May)
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The men’s side depart for France on Sunday May 8, and Last Word On Sports wishes them all the very best for the final two legs of the HSBC Sevens Series.
Follow all the World Sevens Series results from the men’s and women’s competition, with eyes firmly fixed on the final leg, and with an eye on Rio de Janeiro and the ‘golden objective’ in 2016.
“Main photo credit”
