• • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • Stumble Upon
  • Furl

Despite just fielding five of the squad that played at New Zealand’s Nationals in Queenstown, Manawatu expect to be in the running at the International Sevens (21-23 Jan) at the Suva Rugby Festival, which starts this Thursday.

From Queenstown, only Bertus Mulder, Brendan Clare, Frank Afeaki, Karl Bryson and Daniel Smith are the only  survivors who made the Plate semi-final.

One notable in inclusion is pacey winger Paul Tietjens, son of New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens.
Tietjens is still a doubt for the trip as he recovers from a hip flexor strain he suffered in Sri Lanka with a late call to be made on his fitness.

Other key additions are Bay of Plenty's Bay of Plenty's playmaker Matt Hodson and Nigel Hunt.

Hodson has been on the fringes of New Zealand sides while former Wellingtonian and New Zealand rep Nigel Hunt joins Manawatu – he has been training in Wellington with Raikabula. Also travelling is Wanganui forward Lasa Ulukata.

Bertus Mulder is the only Turbos player in the 12-man team, but Daniel Smith, halfback Karl Bryson and Mike Rowe are from the Manawatu Development side.

Mulder and loose forward Afeaki will be the big ball-winners. Afeaki was with Claridge's New Zealand Legends side at the Sri Lanka Sevens and came in after Turbo Brent Thompson pulled out of the Manawatu sevens squad when signed up by the Hurricanes.

Claridge has been watching Horowhenua-Kapiti wing Michael Tambour and has brought him in from the neighbouring union to add speed.

Unavailable for family reasons are Wanganui fullback Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Canterbury's Craig De Goldi. James Solomon is out because of work and Linton Army soldiers Lloyd Carter and Adrian Curry have been ruled out by the New Zealand Defence Force.

Committed to the New Zealand evens camps are Junior Tomasi Cama, Lote Raikabula and Kurt Baker.

The development player on the trip is Palmerston North Boys' High School player Rob Thompson, brother of Turbos first-five Isaac.

Manawatu have been pooled with Suva, Papua New Guinea and the Wardens.

Manawatu Squad for Suva Rugby Festival:

Bertus Mulder (Kia Toa), Brendan Clare (Feilding), Frank Afeaki (North Harbour), Karl Bryson (College OB), Matt Hodson (Bay of Plenty), Mike Rowe (Kia Toa), Paul Tietjens (Kia Toa), Rob Thompson (PNBHS), Michael Tambour (Horowhenua-Kapiti), Nigel Hunt (Bay of Plenty), Daniel Smith (Feilding), Lasa Ulukata (Wanganui).

Management:
Paul Claridge, Stu Ross, Mike Dravitski, Scott Pinfold (trainer), Paula Maisiri.