KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens today named three new players in his squad for the rest of the 2007 season.
Northland midfield back Aden Dewes, 22, Auckland outside back Jarek Goebel, 21, and Canterbury winger Steven Yates, 23, join a group of otherwise experienced players for this year's International Rugby Board series.
Dewes was one of the standout players at the recent national sevens championships in Queenstown, while Goebel starred last year for Auckland's development side.
Yates played for the Crusaders in 2006 and also played for Canterbury in last year's Air New Zealand Cup.
Making a return to national colours is Taranaki's Scott Waldrom, who last played for the national side in 2002 and Manawatu's Tomasi Cama, whose last appearance for New Zealand was at the Paris tournament in 2005. He was named player of the tournament at Queenstown.
Experienced Hawke's Bay forward Tafai Ioasa also makes a return from injury and takes over the captaincy after missing the tournaments in Dubai and South Africa in December.
Tietjens said the three new players in the squad had outstanding talent.
"Aden Dewes and Steven Yates stood out at the national tournament and they, along with Jarek Goebel, did exceptionally well at the trial this week," Tietjens said.
"Jarek is highly regarded in the Auckland rugby fraternity and I saw him play for his province's development team. He has some quality touches and will adapt to the sevens game quite well.
"Steven hasn't played a lot of sevens but he has experience at playing for the Crusaders and Canterbury and is certainly a very talented player. He also has pace, which is a key part of the sevens game.
"As for Aden, he has shown real ability for the Northland development team and for the province at the national tournament."
There
New Zealand sevens squad:
Tafai Ioasa (Hawke's Bay, captain), Charles Baxter (Bay of Plenty), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Edwin Cocker (Otago), Aden Dewes (Northland), DJ Forbes (Auckland), Jarek Goebel (Auckland), Nigel Hunt (Wellington), Solomon King (Bay of Plenty), Zar Lawrence (North Harbour), Afeleke Pelenise (Canterbury), Lote Raikabula (Hawke's Bay), Willie Rickards (Southland), Nick Thomson (Canterbury), Scott Waldrom (Taranaki), Steven Yates (Canterbury). One to be added.
- NZPA
