Among the 16 squads set to compete is Fiji, with World Sevens Player of the Year Samisoni Viriviri making a return to his side, along with Osea Kolinisau, who will lead the team in the New Zealand capital.

New Zealand will give Dylan Collier, Beaudine Waaka, Jack Goodhue and Rieko Ioana first caps in Wellington, but will be missing Tim Mikkelson, who is out with an injury.

"If you'd asked me which player I would dread to lose during or leading into a tournament it would be Tim Mikkelson, just an outstanding individual and outstanding player, I really feel for him," coach Gordon Tietjens said.

"But in saying that it can happen but it provides another player an opportunity."

Australia will be hoping to continue their recent good form, with the likes of Ed Jenkins, Cameron Clark, Pama Fou, Jesse Parahi and Greg Jeloudev featuring in the squad, as will 2013 Wellington champions England, who have sent Richard De Carpentier, James Stephenson, captain Tom Mitchell and former New Zealand player Warwick Lahmert to the competition.

Greg Jeloudev features on the Australian squad in New Zealand ©Getty Images


Meanwhile, Argentina will be another of the squads to watch, with Santiago Cordero, Gastón Revol and Javier Rojas among those having been selected for the side.

Canada, France, Japan, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, United States and Wales complete the list of teams competing in Wellington.

The tournament, which concludes on Saturday (February 7), will be streamed live on worldrugby.org. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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