Sevens affects charity line-up

Tana Umaga's companions for the tsunami fundraiser at Twickenham may not be decided until further consultation with national sevens coach Gordon Tietjens.

The New Zealand Rugby Union told Tietjens he could select two players from each Super 12 squad - provided they did not play in the same position and that only one was in the topline 24 - for the World Cup in Hong Kong next month.

That decision was made before the International Rugby Board announced the March 5 charity match.

Meanwhile Tietjens said he would not be rushed into any decisions about those he wanted to go into a fortnight camp before the March 18 World Cup.

He needed to gauge his players' form and injuries after the Wellington sevens tournament ended tomorrow.

Tietjens may feel he needs to recall a player like Blues wing Joe Rokocoko for the World Cup, a judgment which would remove Rokocoko from the tsunami match because of a conflict of dates.

Although the NZRFU would like to release a list of those New Zealand players who will travel with All Black captain Umaga, they said they must wait to see what happens with the national sevens selections.

There will then be further discussions with All Black coach Graham Henry, the Super 12 coaching staff and players before any announcement is made.

Umaga volunteered his involvement after Wallaby skipper George Gregan and Springbok captain John Smit both declared they would play in the charity match.

Former Wallaby supremo Rod Macqueen will coach the Southern Hemisphere side and Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward will organise the Northern Hemisphere group.

Macqueen wants to pick a player from each Super 12 franchise with the rest of the group coming from the Pacific Islands and Argentina.