NZ 7s coach Gordon Tietjens has named a strong 14 member squad for the Hong Kong and Singapore 7s tournaments.
Sonny Bill Williams returns from injury and Hurricanes backline utility Pita Ahki has also made the squad.
Super Rugby players Akira Ioane, Rieko Ioane, Augustine Pulu and Ardie Savea are available for the final two tournaments in Paris and London.
Ben Lam is out with injury.
SBW is over the knee injury that kept him out for the last two tournaments and has returned to the squad, from which the playing 12 will be chosen for Hong Kong and Singapore.
But Ahki’s inclusion, out of the Hurricanes squad, is the biggest surprise as Tietjens casts his net wider following recent long term injuries to Ben Lam and Joe Webber.
The North Harbour back last played for New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 and was also a member of the 2013 World Cup 7s winning side.
Tietjens said Ahki is very strong defensively and has a very good understanding of the game which is hugely important.
Veteran All Black Liam Messam also continues his managed return to the abbreviated code.
Tietjens said Sonny Bill Williams is coming off the back of two very good tournaments in Sydney and Wellington and wants to get back into it.
New Zealand has been drawn in Pool A in Hong Kong, alongside Samoa, France and Kenya.
The New Zealand 7s squad: Pita Ahki, Kurt Baker, Dylan Collier, Sam Dickson, DJ Forbes, Gillies Kaka, Liam Messam, Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia, Lewis Ormond, Teddy Stanaway, Isaac Te Tamaki, Regan Ware and Sonny Bill Williams.
Source: stuff.co.nz
