Strong sevens squad

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Explosive wings Hosea Gear and Zac Guildford as well as Otago flanker Adam Thomson head Gordon Tietjens' Commonwealth Games Sevens squad, announced on Tuesday.

The squad has a wealth of experience with eight of the players named all part of the current 2009/2010 National Sevens squad.

Guildford, Thomson, and Gear are joined by 2009 All Black utility back Ben Smith.Tietjens was confident the squad would perform strongly.

"My core national squad members have really proved themselves during the World Series and have all earned their spots in this team.

"We have also been lucky enough to be able to add to that with high calibre and experienced players," he added.

New Zealand Olympic Committee secretary general and Commonwealth Games head selector, Barry Maister, was delighted to name the team.

"Rugby sevens is a stand-out event at the Commonwealth Games," he said.

"Since it first featured on the Commonwealth Games schedule in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, New Zealand has come home victorious each time. I'm certainly looking forward to an exciting competition and New Zealand fans will be too."

Wellington's Julian Savea and Bay of Plenty's Solomon King have been named as stand-by players and will travel with the squad to Dubai on October 1 and then the 12-man Commonwealth Games team will continue on to Delhi on 6 October.

All 14 players will also assemble for a two-day camp in Auckland on 23-24 August.

New Zealand Sevens Commonwealth Games squad:

Toby Arnold Bay of PlentyKurt Baker TaranakiTomasi Cama ManawatuDJ Forbes (captain) Counties ManukauHosea Gear WellingtonZac Guildford Hawke-s BayTim Mikkelson WaikatoLote Raikabula ManawatuBen Smith OtagoBen Souness TaranakiSherwin Stowers Counties ManukauAdam Thomson Otago

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