New Otago signing Buxton Popoali'i has been picked as one of the contracted players for the New Zealand sevens team.
Popoali'i (21) has picked up one of the 15 contracts to be handed out for players in the side, coached by Gordon Tietjens.
Teams are cut to 12 players for each competition and the next tournament for the team is the popular Wellington event, to be played at the start of next month.
Popoali'i impressed for Otago in the national sevens tournament in Queenstown earlier this month.
He played halfback for the Otago team, and was the playmaker for the side.
Although Otago only made it through to the quarterfinals of the tournament in Queenstown, before being knocked out by eventual winner Auckland, Popoali'i made a fine impression, making breaks and setting up plays for his outsides.
He is likely to share play-making duties for the national side with Manawatu inside back Tomasi Cama.
Popoali'i previously played sevens for New Zealand at two tournaments in Dubai and South Africa at the end of 2009.
He made his first-class debut in the 15-man game as an 18-year-old, in his first year out of school, at fullback for Wellington.
But he found himself on the outer last season, crowded out by a group of talented midfield and outside backs in the capital.
Three new faces have been named in the New Zealand side: Waikato's Rory Grice, Tasman's Shane Christie and Counties Manukau's David Raikuna.
The side includes the experienced DJ Forbes as captain and speedsters Toby Arnold and Tim Mikkleson.
NZ contracted squad: Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), Shane Christie (Tasman), Scott Curry (Bay of Plenty), DJ Forbes (captain, Counties-Manukau), Rory Grice (Waikato), Frank Halai (Waikato), Bryce Heem (Auckland), Solomon King (Bay of Plenty), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Jackson Ormond (Taranaki), Declan O'Donnell (Waikato), Buxton Popoalii (Otago), Lote Raikubula (Manawatu), David Raikuna (Counties-Manukau). - NZPA
