Tietjens to field different teams in Paris and London

All 16 players will travel to Europe on Saturday as part of preparations for the Rio Olympic Games in August.  

The squad includes injured captain Scott Curry who will train with the squad, but not play in the tournaments.

In mid-June all 16 players will take part in trials for the New Zealand Olympic Sevens team which will be named by the New Zealand Olympic Committee in early July.

All Blacks Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens said Sam Dickson and Joe Webber were still in the frame for selection depending on their progress with injuries. 

The door also remained opened for others in the event of injuries to squad members.

“We’re taking 16 to Europe so we can share the workload and give all players the opportunity to make the final team, so to that end we’ll be using a different 12 for Paris and London," said Tietjens.

“It’s a very experienced group coupled with an exciting core of young players who are tasting sevens for the first time this season so it’s great we can take a larger group then normal to these two tournaments as we build towards Rio.”

New Zealand has been drawn in Pool A in Paris alongside Singapore Sevens winners Kenya, Portugal and Russia. 

The team is currently third in the season standings behind South Africa and series leader, Fiji.

New Zealand Sevens squad: Pita Ahki, Kurt Baker, Dylan Collier, Scott Curry, DJ Forbes, Akira Ioane, Rieko Ioane, Gillies Kaka, Liam Messam, Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia, Lewis Ormond, Augustine Pulu, Teddy Stanaway, Regan Ware, Sonny Bill Williams.

(Paris is 10 hours behind NZT)

Paris kick-off times:

Friday, May 13

19.22 (5.22 NZT 14 May, 17.22 GMT) v Russia

Saturday, May 14

10.52 (20.52 NZT, 08.52 GMT) v Portugal

14.03 (24.03 NZT, 12.03 GMT) v Kenya