Hawke's Bay's Amasio Valence, Tafai Ioasa and Rangi Vallance were included in coach Gordon Tietjens' 18-strong New Zealand Sevens rugby training squad named yesterday. Three members of this year's New Zealand Secondary Schools team also found a place.
Bay of Plenty's Tanerau Latimer and Lance McDonald, and Auckland's Sherwin Stowers were
named, with Latimer having made his debut as a 17-year-old last season.
Other newcomers to the side are Auckland outside back David Smith, Wellington halfback Nigel Hunt, Waikato first five-eighth William Ripia, North Harbour flanker Brent Wilson and Bay of Plenty loose forward Solomon King.
Ripia was part of the New Zealand Under-19 side that won their World Cup in South Africa this year.
Highlanders Super 12 coach Greg Cooper has also agreed to release flanker Josh Blackie for the training squad. Auckland's Orene Ai'i, Waikato's Liam Messam and Wellington's Roy Kinikinilau were also included.
Kinikinilau has reportedly been courted by several Australian National Rugby League clubs including Brisbane and Melbourne in recent weeks.
Wellington's Justin Wilson, with a foot injury, and North Harbour's Hayden Reid, with a shoulder injury, weren't considered for selection.
The training squad will assemble at Mount Maunganui between November 22-27, when the New Zealand squad of 12 for the first two world tournaments in Dubai and South Africa will be named.
IRB Sevens tournament schedule: December 2-3, Dubai; December 10-11, George, South Africa; February 4-5, Wellington; February 12-13, Los Angeles; April 16-17, Singapore; June 4-5, London; June 11-12, Bordeaux.
