Five new players have been named in the New Zealand squad to contest the opening two rounds of the international rugby sevens series in Dubai and South Africa next month.
The new faces are 23-year-old Taranaki loose forward Jarrad Hoeata, 21-year-old Bay of Plenty loose forward Solomon King, Northland winger Rene Ranger, 20, 22-year-old Southland winger Willie Rickards and Canterbury winger Nick Thomson, 20.
They join a group of established players in the 12-strong squad.
Auckland's DJ Forbes, who made his New Zealand sevens debut in Wellington in February, has been appointed captain.
New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said speed was an important criteria in his selection.
"I picked players who have pace, which is so important in the sevens game," he said.
"This squad also offers me size which is a bonus because, in general, a lot of teams now select bigger players to create opportunities and we are blessed with big players who have pace."
New Zealand has won the Dubai tournament three times since 2000.
In South Africa, New Zealand won in 2000, 2001 and 2004 and lost in the 2002 and 2003 finals.
For the Dubai tournament on December 1-2, New Zealand are pooled with Samoa, Wales and Arabian Gulf. A week later in South Africa, they have grouped alongside Australia, Scotland and Tunisia.
New Zealand sevens squad: Edwin Cocker (Otago), DJ Forbes (Auckland, captain), Jarrad Hoeata (Taranaki), Nigel Hunt (Wellington), Solomon King (Bay of Plenty), Zar Lawrence (North Harbour), Lachie Munro (Auckland), Alfred Pelenise (Canterbury), Rene Ranger (Northland), Lote Raikabula (Hawke's Bay), Willie Rickards (Southland), and Nick Thomson (Canterbury).
NZPA