Tietjens retains experience in Sevens squad

Coach Gordon Tietjens has retained the core of his recent New Zealand teams in the new sevens rugby training squad he named after the weekend's national tournament in Queenstown.

Included in the 26-member squad, to be cut to 16 later, are Auckland playmakers Amasio Valence and Orene Ai'i, Wellington's Tafai Ioasa, Roy Kinikinilau and Justin Wilson, Waikato's Liam Messam and Bay of Plenty's Nathaniel Walker, Charles Baxter and Tanerau Latimer.

Among the newcomers are Wellington teenager Victor Vito and Fijians Viliame Waqaseduadua (North Harbour) and Tomasi Komainaua (Manawatu).

The squad will assemble in Tauranga on Friday for a four-day camp, after which Tietjens will name 16 players to be contracted for the remainder of the sevens season.

Squad:

Amasio Valence, Isaiah Toeava, Orene Ai'i (all Auckland), Brian Milne (Southland), Charles Baxter, Jason Hona, Nathaniel Walker, Tanerau Latimer (BOP), Donovan Nepia, Rangi Vallance (Hawke's Bay), Edwin Cocker (Otago), George Naoupu, Sam Lemalie (Canterbury), George Pisi, Marc Camburn, Michael Wilson, Hayden Reid, Villiame Waqaseduadua (North Harbour), Justin Wilson, Nigel Hunt, Roy Kinikinilau, Tafai Ioasa, Victor Vito (Wellington), Liam Messam (Waikato), Lifemi Mafi (Taranaki), Tomasi Komainaua (Manawatu).

- NZPA