Former Whanganui High School sevens standout Vilimoni Koroi is the surprise selection in the New Zealand team to play the HSHC Wellington Sevens this weekend.
Koroi, 18, played Condor Sevens and 1st XV rugby for WHS before transferring to Feilding Ag High School, where he was selected for the NZ Secondary Schools team last year.
The teenager signed a professional contract with the Otago Rugby Football Union and had just moved south, not even playing in the recent Bayleys National Sevens tournament.
He is one of four newcomers named last week to the team under coach Scott Waldrom, alongside Tasman players Trael Joass, Andrew Knewstubb and Tone Ng Shiu.
"This is a team based on form, and it shows that exciting talent coming through can put their hand up and be successful with national selection," said Waldrom.