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New Zealand Sevens Coach Gordon Tietjens has named a 16 man national training squad in preparation for the Wellington and Las Vegas legs of the IRB World Sevens Series next month.

Tietjens named his squad after the Pub Charity National Sevens tournament held in Queenstown over the weekend. Newcomers to the squad include Counties Manukau’s Fritz Lee, Bay of Plenty’s Ruki Tipuna, Taranaki’s Beauden Barrett and Leka Tupuola from Wellington.

“We saw some good sevens rugby in Queenstown and despite the tough weather conditions it was a very competitive tournament. I was impressed with a few players and the training squad I have selected has a good mix of experienced and new players,” Tietjens said.

“This is a big season for us with the Commonwealth Games later in the year and that is what we will be working towards as we play the next six tournaments in the World Series.”

The squad will assemble in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday 19 January for a four-day camp with the 2010 national contracted squad to be named later this month. The players will re-assemble in Wellington on Thursday 28 January ahead of the NZI Wellington Sevens on Waitangi weekend. The squad will then be narrowed down to a playing 12 for the Wellington and Las Vegas tournaments.

“Wellington is always an exciting tournament for both the fans and the players. We have had a great start in the series with wins in Dubai and George and we hope to continue that form going into our home tournament,” said Tietjens.

The Kiwis currently lead the World Series after wins in Dubai and George before Christmas.

New Zealand Sevens training squad:

Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty)
Kurt Baker (Manawatu)
Beauden Barrett * (Taranaki)
Tomasi Cama (Manawatu)
DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau)
Paul Grant (Otago)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)
Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty)
Fritz Lee* (Counties Manukau)
Lote Raikabula (Manawatu)
Ben Souness (Taranaki)
Sherwin Stowers (Counties Manukau)
Ruki Tipuna* (Bay of Plenty)
Nafi Tiutavake (North Harbour)
Save Tokula (Waikato)
Leka Tupuola* (Wellington)

Note: * denotes new player to the squad