Auckland well represented in sevens squad

Getty Images

LEADER: DJ Forbes is one of the Aucklanders named in the 2012 national sevens squad.

Relevant offers

New Zealand rugby sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has named 5 Auckland based players in his 2012 national contracted squad, while All Blacks winger Hosea Gear has been released to play in next weekend's Wellington sevens tournament.

Wellington's Ardie Savea, 18, the younger brother of Hurricane and former New Zealand sevens player Julian Savea, has been named in Tietjens squad for the first time, with other new caps in the 15-strong squad including Hawke's Bay's Mark Jackman, Taranaki's Waisake Naholo and 19-year-old Lolagi Visina from Auckland.

The squad includes plenty of experience with senior players Lote Raikabula, captain DJ Forbes and playmaker Tomasi Cama all heading into their seventh season with the side.

Titejens said his squad had a good mix of youth and experience.

''DJ, Lote and Tomasi have played in over 40 tournaments and there are quite a few players in this squad that travelled to every tournament in the series last year which gives them invaluable experience to pass down to the younger players.

''There are some young players in this squad showing great promise which bodes well for the future as we head towards the 2016 Olympics.''

Meanwhile, new Highlander and All Blacks winger Hosea Gear will join the squad in Wellington on Friday.

Gear has made himself available for selection for the New Zealand leg of the world series and will be released by the Highlanders for the tournament should he be selected.

Squad:

Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty), DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau), Frank Halai (Waikato), Bryce Heem (Auckland), Mark Jackman (Hawke's Bay), Solomon King (North Harbour), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Waisake Naholo (Taranaki), Kylem O'Donnell (Taranaki), Charles Piutau (Auckland), Lote Raikabula (Wellington), Ardie Savea (Wellington), Lolagi Visinia (Auckland).

- © Fairfax NZ News