FORMER Lelean Memorial School under-19 rugby centre Seta Tamanivalu has been named in the New Zealand Emerging 7s team for the Uprising Fiji International 7s tournament this weekend.
Tamanivalu, who starred for the LMS U19 Deans winning team in 2010, will accompany fellow Fijians Luke Masirewa and former Blues winger David Raikuna.
New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens, who will be the technical advisor for the team, is looking at testing his new players who are all eyeing a spot for the Wellington and Las Vegas tournaments of the International Rugby Board HSBC Sevens World Series.
Taranaki player Warwick Lahmert who made his debut for New Zealand at the Gold Coast tournament is the captain of the team.
Belgium Tuatagaloa, Masirewa and Lahmert were part of the team at the George 7s in South Africa while Iopu Iopu and Gareth Williams-Spiers who made their debut at the Gold Coast will be out to impress Tietjens for a spot in Wellington.
The team is coached by New Zealand women's rugby sevens coach Sean Horan and managed by Greg Waugh.
The New Zealand Emerging 7s team is drawn with the FMF Fiji Warriors, URF Army and Uprising 7s.
New Zealand 7s team: William Whetton (Northland), Belgium Tuatagaloa (Wellington), Seta Tamanivula (Taranaki), Iopu Iopu (Auckland), Luke Masirewa (Waikato), Warwick Lahmert (Taranaki) - captain, David Raikuna (North Harbour), Matt Faddes (Otago), Trinty Spooner Neera (Hawkes Bay), Gillies Kaka (Hawkes Bay), Gareth William-Spears (Auckland), Beaudine Waaka (Taranaki)