GC7s squads: Pool A (NZL, SAM, FRA, JPN)
Tomasi Cama is fit and ready for the Gold Coast Sevens, the first round in the Olympic qualification season.
Defending HSBC Sevens World Series and Gold Coast Sevens champions New Zealand have named two debutants in their squad for the tournament this weekend.
Matt Clutterbuck and Tony Ensor impressed at the Oceania Sevens last weekend in which Gordon Tietjens’ side finished runners-up to Fiji.
Joe Webber comes into the team, while Jordan Bunce was unlucky to miss out on the side through injury after impressing in Noosa.
“We want to win this first leg of the World Series to kick-start our campaign,” said Gordon Tietjens.
“This is the most important year for us in terms of our road to the Olympics – we can’t take anything for granted and from our point of view, there are no easy games – so the goal is to win.”
Federic Pommarel has named a strong squad for the opening round of the 2014/15 HSBC Sevens World Series.
Following a successful summer in which France won two titles in the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Sevens Series, the likes of Virimi Vakatawa, Stephen Parez and Terry Bourraoua are all included.
France squad: Steeve Barry, Terry Bouhraoua, Renaud Delmas, Vincent Deniau, Bryan Dimeck, Jean-Baptiste Gobelet, Vincent Inigo, Pierre-Gillies Lakafia, Jonathan Laugel, Jean-Baptiste Mazoue, Stephen Parez, Virimi Vakatawa
Afa Aiono returns to the Samoa squad for the opening round on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua’s side will compete in the Oceania Sevens before they embark on the new season, which is part of the Olympic qualification process.
Having finished eighth last season, Samoa will be hoping to finish in the top four to guarantee their spot at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Samoa will begin the Series alongside champions New Zealand, France and the new core team Japan.
Japan, off the back of their recent Gold medal at the Asian Games, name Katsuyuki Sakai as captain with Lomano Lemeki set to continue his impressive form.
Courtesy of IRB
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