Curry returns to captain NZ Sevens in Vancouver

Former Reporoa College student Scott Curry returns to captain the All Blacks Sevens team this weekend. Photo/File

Bay of Plenty star Scott Curry will return to captain the All Blacks Sevens team to play the sixth leg of the 2016/17 HSBC World Series in Vancouver.

The former Reporoa College student will lead his side in the tournament, starting on Sunday New Zealand time, after sitting out the Las Vegas fifth leg last week as a precaution due to a mild concussion.

Coach Scott Waldrom was pleased to have his captain back to lead the team for the tournament.

"It's great that Scott has fully recovered from his concussion and is all clear to start this weekend. His leadership, aerial skills and speed up front will be welcomed back," he said.

Ambrose Curtis, who was called into the team as injury cover, has also been named in the starting 12 after impressing off the bench in Las Vegas. Andrew Knewstubb moves down to 13 and Tone Ng Shiu is travelling reserve for the tournament.

"Ambrose has earned his spot in the starting 12. He brings experience from previously playing for the All Blacks Sevens and his recent time with the Blues is a good addition to the team," he said.

New Zealand have yet to win a stop on the 2016/17 series.

They have made it to the semifinals in three of the five stops so far, but not made it to the finals.

"I'm looking for the team to step up and play with improved discipline. Again in Las Vegas we showed glimpses of the squad we can be, but we let ourselves down in the games that mattered with simple errors. To move past the semifinals and take out a tournament we need to play without mistakes in every game. "

New Zealand face Russia, Scotland and Canada in pool play.

"We go into the tournament keen to make our first final of this series. We are first up against Russia, who are improving, Scotland are only a couple of places behind us on the overall series standings and have shown the they can win against the top teams, and Canada will be keen to impress at home and bring a hometown advantage. So we are going to have to work hard on day one to earn our spot on finals day."

All Blacks Sevens team:

Scott Curry - Captain (Bay of Plenty)
Dylan Collier (Southland)
Ambrose Curtis (Manawatu)
DJ Forbes - Captain (Counties Manukau)
Iopu Iopu-Aso (Taranaki)
Trael Joass (Tasman)
Vilimoni Koroi (Otago)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)
Sione Molia (Counties Manukau)
Sherwin Stowers (Counties Manukau)
Isaac Te Tamaki (Waikato)
Beaudein Waaka (Taranaki)

Thirteenth player: Andrew Knewstubb (Tasman)
Travelling reserve: Tone Ng Shiu (Tasman)

Schedule for All Blacks Sevens pool play (New Zealand time)

Sunday 12 March 2017: New Zealand v Russia, 9.04am, New Zealand v Scotland, 12.40pm, New Zealand v Canada, 4.20pm

Monday 13 March 2017: Finals day