Souness in sevens squad for second year running

ROBERT CHARLES/Taranaki Daily News

SEVENS AGAIN: Taranaki's Ben Souness has been named in the New Zealand sevens team for the second straight season.

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Promising Taranaki rugby player Ben Souness has been named in the New Zealand Sevens squad for the opening two rounds of the IRB World Series.

Souness, 24, made his debut for the national side last year, playing in several IRB tournaments. He carried on the good form he showed for the sevens side with several impressive performances for Taranaki, including a starring role in his side's last Air New Zealand Cup win against Bay of Plenty.

He could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens was pleased with the balance of his 12-man squad heading into the opening tournaments in Dubai from December 4-5 and South Africa on December 11-12.

"Last season had its challenges with the injuries we suffered, but these first two tournaments are a good opportunity for us to start fresh and also begin building towards next year's Commonwealth Games," he said.

The New Zealand squad will depart for Dubai on Sunday.

New Zealand sevens squad: Onosai Auva'a (Auckland), Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Kurt Baker (Manawatu), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (Counties-Manukau), Paul Grant (Otago), Zar Lawrence (Bay of Plenty), Buxton Popoalii (Wellington), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Ben Souness (Taranaki), Sherwin Stowers (Counties-Manukau), Save Tokula (Waikato).