Coach Sir Gordon Tietjens has today confirmed the 12-man squad chosen to represent New Zealand in the inaugural Olympic Sevens event in Rio.
Scott Curry will captain the side having missed most of this year's World Series with a shoulder injury, while veterans Tim Mikkelson, Gillies Kaka, DJ Forbes are all notable inclusions.
Newcomers such as Augustine Pulu, Reiko and Akira Ioane have also made the cut.
Sonny Bill Williams has made the cut while his sister Niall is being named in the Women’s squad.
Surprise omissions included sevens regular Kurt Baker and World Cup winning All Black Liam Messam.
NZ heads Group C and will play Great Britain, Kenya and Japan in pool play.
Fiji heads Group A alongside USA, Argentina and host nation Brazil.
Group B, meanwhile, is made up of South Africa, Australia, France and Spain, who secured the final spot in Rio by stunning Samoa in the global repechage tournament two weeks ago.
Squad in full: Scott Curry (C), Sam Dickson, DJ Forbes, Akira Ioane, Reiko Ioane, Gillies Kaka, Tim Mikkelson, Augustine Pulu, Teddy Stanaway, Regan Ware, Joe Webber, Sonny Bill Williams.
Source: tvnz / stuff.co
