Tietjens: 'Contracts are on the line'
New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has named 30 players to assemble in Mount Maunganui for the national squad trials starting next Tuesday, January 17.
The players were named following the National Sevens in Queenstown at the weekend.
The tournament was won by Auckland who beat Otago 36-24 in the Final.
Tietjens said the trial camp was an important part of identifying and developing future talent.
“The players know they are competing for contracts for the 2012 season but they also know we have an eye on talent for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
“This is a really exciting time to be involved with Sevens rugby. With fulltime Sevens contracts up for grabs in the future there are some talented young players coming into this trial that could put their hands up as Olympic medal hopefuls in Rio in four years’ time,” he said.
A national contracted squad of 15 will be named next Friday, January 20, at the conclusion of the trial and will assemble in Wellington on Thursday, January 26 – ahead of the New Zealand leg of the IRB World Series in the city on February 3 and 4.
New Zealand trialists: Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Frazier Climo (Taranaki), Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty), Matt Faddes (Otago), DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau), Frank Halai (Waikato), Bryce Heem (Auckland), Nathan Hughes (Auckland), Joe Hill (Otago), Mark Jackman (Canterbury), Solomon King (North Harbour), Warwick Lahmert (Taranaki), James Lowe (Tasman), Jono Malo (Waikato), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Kieran Moffat (Otago), Waisake Naholo (Taranaki), Kyle O’Donnell (Taranaki), Ken Pisi (North Harbour), Charles Piutau (Auckland), Lote Raikabula (Wellington), Glen Robertson (Waikato), Ardie Savea (Wellington), Ben Souness (Taranaki), Ahsee Tuala (Counties Manukau), Nafi Tuitavake (North Harbour), Lolagi Visinia (Auckland), Joe Webber (Waikato), Jack Wilson (Bay of Plenty).
