All Blacks loaded into Sevens squad
Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:31
Adam Thomson's Sevens chance
The New Zealand Olympic Committee has named a 12-man Sevens squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.
The squad has a wealth of experience with eight of the players named all part of the current '09/10 National Sevens squad. All Blacks Zac Guildford, Adam Thomson and Hosea Gear have also received call-ups.
Coach Gordon Tietjens said he was very pleased with the squad he will take to the Games.
"My core national squad members have really proved themselves during the World Series and have all earned their spots in this team.
"We have also been lucky enough to be able to add to that with high calibre and experienced players," head selector Barry Maister said.
"Rugby sevens is a standout event at the Commonwealth Games," he added.
"Since it first featured on the Commonwealth Games schedule in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, New Zealand has come home victorious each time. I'm certainly looking forward to an exciting competition and New Zealand fans will be too."
Wellington's Julian Savea and Bay of Plenty's Solomon King have been named as standby players and will travel with the squad to Dubai in October and then the 12-man Commonwealth Games team will continue on to Delhi.
All 14 players will also assemble for a two-day camp in Auckland on August 23-24.
The total New Zealand Commonwealth Games squad is expected to number 195 athletes and 100 support staff. The team will come together to honour Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
The final selections will be made in early August and the Commonwealth Games take place in Delhi, India, October 3-14.
The Commonwealth Games will attract more than 4,500 athletes from 71 countries to compete in 17 sports.
The New Zealand Sevens squad: Toby Arnold, Kurt Baker, Tomasi Cama, DJ Forbes (captain), Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford, Tim Mikkelson, Lote Raikabula, Ben Smith, Ben Souness, Sherwin Stowers, Adam Thomson.
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