Tasman national 7's train-on squad named [Nelson Mail]
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/sport/rugby/5968063/Big-squad-named-for-nationals
The Tasman rugby sevens selectors have named an extended squad of 26 players as they bid for qualification for the national tournament in Queenstown early next year.
After the Turf Hotel Tasman Club Sevens tournament, won by the Nelson club on Saturday, coach Gary Stevens and manager Mike Kerrisk named a wider squad to train for the South Island championships in Timaru next month.
They need a top-three spot to earn a place at the nationals.
Stevens and Kerrisk named a bigger squad than usual as they wanted the team to be able to have matches against each other as part of their preparation.
Included are four players from the Tasman academy – Steven Soper, Mitchell Drummond, Pita Siaki and Kereama Barrett – who are ineligible for the senior team unless they receive dispensation. They had been included to give them experience.
Four other players – Kim Bateman, Kieran Fonotia, George Millar and Joe Stewart – are injured, but will come into the reckoning once fit.
The squad also features Junior Sifa, who has remained in the region after his appearance with the USA at the Rugby World Cup and who has indicated he will stay for some time.
Tasman won last year's South Island championships and placed 14th at the national event.
THE SQUAD
Liam Squire, Brenton Connell, Shane Grieve, Tevita Koloamatangi, Willis Scott, Trael Joass, Shane Christie, Jack Umaga, Junior Sifa, Shawn Begg, Eliot Smith, Seta Sauira, Mike Wells, Phil Gibson, James Lowe, Sione Holani, James Marshall, Mitchell Scott, Kim Bateman, George Millar, Kieran Fonotia, Joe Stewart. Academy players: Steven Soper, Mitchell Drummond, Pita Siaki, Kareama Barrett.
