http://www.allblacks.com/news/13459/NZ-Sevens-trial-squad-for-2010-Commonwealth-GamesNew Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has named a 22-man trial squad for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.
The trial squad includes Steinlager Series All Blacks Adam Thomson and Zac Guildford and New Zealand Maori try-scoring hero Hosea Gear. New Zealand Under 20 standout Julian Savea, whose form at the recent Junior World Championship in Argentina saw him named the IRB Junior Player of the year, has also been named in the Sevens trial squad.
Tietjens said he was pleased with the depth of the players coming into the trial camp.
"We have a good mix of current Sevens national squad members and quality players coming in from other national teams," he said.
The players will assemble in Mount Maunganui from today (Monday) until Thursday. A 14-man squad for the Commonwealth Games will be named next month.
The players will then assemble for a two-day camp in Auckland on 23-24 August and then again on 29 September before departing for Dubai on 1 October. The 14-man squad will stay in Dubai for five days and 12 players will then travel on to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games.
Players not considered for the trial camp due to injury are Sean Maitland (shoulder), Tim Nanai-Williams (hamstring), Lelia Masaga (knee), Kendrick Lynn (groin), Jared Payne (ankle) and Scott Waldrom (hand).
Commonwealth Games New Zealand Sevens trial squad:
Toby Arnold - Bay of Plenty
Kurt Baker - Taranaki
Beauden Barrett - Taranaki
Tomasi Cama - Manawatu
Edwin Cocker - Auckland
DJ Forbes - Counties Manukau
Robert Fruean - Canterbury
Hosea Gear - Wellington
Zac Guildford - Hawke's Bay
Jason Hona - Bay of Plenty
Solomon King - Bay of Plenty
Zar Lawrence - Bay of Plenty
Fritz Lee - Counties Manukau
Brendon Leonard - Waikato
Tim Mikkelson - Waikato
Lote Raikabula - Manawatu
Julian Savea - Welllington
Ben Smith - Otago
Ben Souness - Taranaki
Sherwin Stowers - Counties Manukau
Adam Thomson - Otago
Save Tokula - Waikato
Since Hosea Gear isn't getting the chance he deserves as an All Black, he gets consolation in a chance for a a Commonwealth gold medal. The trial squad is looking pretty lethal. I'd like to see Gear and also the impressive 2010 junior player of the year, Julian Savea in the squad. I'm always really impressed with how Gear stays in New Zealand and works hard for the AB jersey, even though he could earn it big over seas. The trial squad has a mix of experienced and tested sevens players such as Cama, Forbes and Lawrence mixed with proven 15's specialists such as Gear, Thompson and Fruen. Looks like a quality squad for the Commonwealth Games.