SBW named in NZ squad for Wellington 7s

Sonny Bill Williams and three newcomers have been included in the New Zealand rugby sevens extended squad for the Wellington 7s.

The squad of 22 players features four additional players, three of whom are new to the All Blacks Sevens.

They are Counties-Manukau players Sione Molia and Josh Van Lieshout and Hawkes Bay’s Billy Ropiha.

Taranaki’s Kurt Baker, who has played 17 World Series tournaments for New Zealand, is the fourth player added to the squad after returning to the All Blacks Sevens as a contracted squad member for 2016.

Scott Curry, Declan O’Donnell, DJ Forbes and Sherwin Stowers were not available because of injury, while All Black loose forward Liam Messam was unavailable due to rugby commitments in Japan.

The All Blacks Sevens squad for the Wellington Sevens will start preparations tomorrow.

Coach Gordon Tietjiens will name his final 12-man team to play in the Wellington 7s next Monday.

New Zealand is pooled with South Africa, Scotland and Russia.

NZ 7s team extended squad:

Kurt Baker (Taranaki)
Dylan Collier (Waikato)
Sam Dickson (Canterbury)
Akira Ioane (Auckland)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
Gillies Kaka (Hawkes Bay)
Antonio Kiri Kiri (Manawatu)
Ben Lam (Auckland)
Josh Van Lieshout (Counties Manukau)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)
Sione Molia (Counties Manukau)
Lewis Ormond (Taranaki)
Augustine Pulu (Waikato)
Billy Ropiha (Hawkes Bay)
Ardie Savea (Wellington)
Teddy Stanaway (Bay of Plenty)
Isaac Te Aute (Bay of Plenty)
Isaac Te Tamaki (Waikato)
Beaudein Waaka (Taranaki)
Regan Ware (Waikato)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau)
Joe Webber (Waikato)

Source: Radio NZ