All Blacks Sevens name training squad

All Blacks Sevens captain Scott Curry. Photo / Getty

An 18-strong All Blacks Sevens training squad has been named to prepare for the opening two tournaments of the sevens world series in December.

Led by new skipper Scott Curry, the training group is missing a number of players named in the initial 2015-16 squad who are not due to be available for selection until the New Year.

They include All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam, and Super Rugby players Akira Ioane, Ben Lam and Ardie Savea - who have all come off impressive ITM Cups seasons for Auckland (Ioane and Lam) and Wellington (Savea) respectively.

Curry has taken over the captaincy from long-time skipper DJ Forbes, who stepped down to concentrate on getting in the best shape to push for selection for next year's Rio Olympics.

New Zealand have won 12 of the 16 world series, but had to settle for third last season behind winners Fiji and runners-up South Africa.

The new season starts in Dubai on December 4, where the All Blacks Sevens' will face France, Portugal and the United States in their pool.

The world series circuit continues in Cape Town the following weekend.

The training squad assemble in Mt Maunganui on Monday and the team for the first two rounds will be named on Thursday.

All Black Sevens training squad: Dylan Collier (Waikato), Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty), Sam Dickson (Canterbury), DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau), Gillies Kaka (Hawkes Bay), Antonio Kirikiri (Manawatu), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Declan O'Donnell (Waikato), Lewis Ormond (Taranaki), Augustine Pulu (Waikato), Lote Raikabula (Wellington), Teddy Stanaway (Bay of Plenty), Sherwin Stowers (Counties Manukau), Isaac Te Aute (Bay of Plenty), Isaac Te Tamaki (Waikato), Beaudein Waaka (Taranaki), Regan Ware (Waikato), Joe Webber (Waikato).