Gordon Tietjens has named an initial training squad for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, with All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam included.
The All Blacks Sevens will go into the new season with the services of All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam with head coach Gordon Tietjens announcing his initial training squad that will form the basis of the selected teams for the new HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
The pair – along with Ben Lam, Ardie Savea and Akira Ioane, who impressed at this year’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy – are new faces in the squad from last season. Ioane, Lam, Messam and Savea have previously pulled on the sevens jersey, with Williams due to make his debut in the sport.
A core of sevens specialists from the 2014-15 season, where the All Blacks Sevens finished third overall and qualified for Rio 2016, were also named in the squad with New Zealand using the new season as preparation for the sport’s debut at the Olympic Games.
Scott Curry, a regular member in recent seasons, will captain the side following the decision of long serving leader DJ Forbes to step down from the role to focus on his sevens game.
“It’s a big year ahead for sevens so to be captain at this time is a huge thrill,” said Curry. “I’ve learnt a lot about leadership from DJ and I know I’ll be drawing on his knowledge in the season ahead. We have really important goals over the next year and I’ll be working hard to help the team be in the best possible shape to succeed.”
Tietjens said he was very excited to have Williams and Messam commit to sevens, with both players available for all world series events and unlikely to play Super Rugby.
“We know what Liam can do and he will certainly give us some new options up front,” added Tietjens. “He’s a hugely experienced sevens player having won two Commonwealth Games gold medals and been part of Sevens World Series winning New Zealand teams.
“Sonny Bill Williams is a great athlete and has shown he can adapt very easily to the demands of rugby. I see him adjusting very well to the fast pace of sevens. He’ll be a great attacking weapon with his speed, strength and uncanny ability to offload.
“We’re really pleased he’s committed to the full season. He knows competition for places will be intense so he’s giving himself the best chance of making the team for Rio.”
Other Super Rugby players selected will be available for the Wellington and Sydney sevens tournaments. They will then return to their Super Rugby teams through to week 10 and be available for the remaining two tournaments of the World Series in Paris and London.
Tietjens said the initial training squad will form the basis of the teams to be selected for the new season. More players would be added later this year.
New Zealand squad: Dylan Collier, Scott Curry (captain), Sam Dickson, DJ Forbes, Gillies Kaka, Akira Ioane, Rieko Ioane, Ben Lam, Liam Messam, Tim Mikkelson, Ardie Savea, Sherwin Stowers, Sam Vaka, Beaudein Waaka, Joe Webber, Sonny Bill Williams.
