Two new caps in Wheel Blacks rugby squad

Two rookies have been named in the Wheel Blacks wheelchair rugby squad to travel to South Africa in November.

Canterbury's Steve Hannen and Waikato's David Klinkhamer are part of the nine-man squad for the Oceania tournament to play South Africa, Japan and Australia.

New Zealand as host nation have automatically qualified for next September's world championships in Christchurch, but are keen for a win in the upcoming tournament for a chance to be ranked number one going into the world champs.

Hannen was a non-travelling reserve for the team to the Paralympics in Athens.

He is a survivor of the Cave Creek disaster 10 years ago where a West Coast Department of Conservation viewing platform collapsed with 18 people, killing 13.

Klinkhamer was first selected in the Wheel Blacks squad last December.

The full squad is: Bill Oughton (captain), Dan Buckingham, Geremy Tinker, Steve Hannen (all Canterbury), Curtis Palmer, Tim Johnson, Jai Waite (Auckland), David Klinkhamer (Waikato), Sholto Taylor (Hawkes Bay).

- NZPA