New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has told the 30 players named to assemble in Mt Maunganui for the national squad trials next week that the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 are there for the taking.
New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has told the 30 players named to assemble in Mt Maunganui for the national squad trials next week that the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 are there for the taking.
The squad was named following the national rugby sevens tournament in Queenstown at the weekend, which was won by Auckland over Otago in the final.
Titejens said the trial camp, which starts next Tuesday, was an important part of identifying and developing future talent. But while players were compteing for 2012 contracts, they should also take a look at the bigger picture and know that with hard work over the next few years they could make the Olympics.
Sevens is set to make its Olympic debut in 2016, and High Performance Sport New Zealand has indicated the sport will receive significant funding over the next few years.
''The players know they are competing for contracts for the 2012 season but they also know we have an eye on talent for the Olympics in Rio de Janerio in 2016,'' Tietjens said.
''This is a really exciting time to be involved with sevens rugby. With fulltime sevens contracts up for grabs in the future there are some talented young players coming into this trial that could put their hands up as Olympic medal hopefuls in Rio in four years' time.''
A national contracted squad of 15 will be named on January 20, at the conclusion of the trial, and will assemble in Wellington on January 26 ahead of the Wellington tournament on February 3-4.
New Zealand sevens trialists:
Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Frazier Climo (Taranaki), Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty), Matt Faddes (Otago), DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau), Frank Halai (Waikato), Bryce Heem (Auckland), Nathan Hughes (Auckland), Joe Hill (Otago), Mark Jackman (Canterbury), Solomon King (North Harbour), Warwick Lahmert (Taranaki), James Lowe (Tasman), Jono Malo (Waikato), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Kieran Moffat (Otago), Waisake Naholo (Taranaki), Kylem O'Donnell (Taranaki), Ken Pisi (North Harbour), Charles Piutau (Auckland), Lote Raikabula (Wellington), Glen Robertson (Waikato), Ardie Savea (Wellington), Ben Souness (Taranaki), Ahsee Tuala (Counties Manukau), Nafi Tuitavake (North Harbour), Lolagi Visinia (Auckland), Joe Webber (Waikato), Jack Wilson (Bay of Plenty).
- © Fairfax NZ News
Wednesday January 11 2012 06:20 a.m.