Fijians bolster NZ squad

Fiji Times - Saturday, May 10, 2008 8:13 AM

FIJIANS Tomasi Cama Junior and Lote Raikabula have been included in the New Zealand sevens side for the final two rounds of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series.

However, the notable omission is Victor Vito, who has been released by coach Gordon Tietjens to concentrate on 15s-specific training The London tournament is on May 24-25, and Edinburgh a week later on May 31-June 1.

Cama and Raikabula form the backbone for the Kiwis and will play a more important role than ever before with Vito gone.

NZ need seven points - victory in the Plate (eight points) or a Cup semi-final appearance (12) - to seal their defence.

"Victor made a tremendous impact on the sevens team and the series in his debut season but a player's overall rugby development is important," Tietjens said.

South Africa ended New Zealand's unbeaten streak in the international sevens rugby series by beating them 15-7 in a tenacious Adelaide final in early April.

New Zealand had gone 47 matches unbeaten since last year, but are still poised to win their eighth overall title in nine years with two tournaments left.

The training camp will be held from May 13-17 and Tietjens said it was aimed at getting the players back into "competition mode".

"We were disappointed with our results in Adelaide after such a good performance in Hong Kong but we have put ourselves in a good position to win the series and it is important to go into London with a positive attitude," he said.

The 12-man squad for the final two tournaments will be named after the camp.

NZ sevens squad: Tomasi Cama, Edwin Cocker, Israel Dagg, DJ Forbes, Nigel Hunt, Tafai Ioasa, Solomon King, Zar Lawrence, Kendrick Lynn, Ben Nowell, Afeleke Pelenise, Lote Raikabula, Rene Ranger, Chad Tuoro, Nafi Tuitavake.