Hosea gets Sevens Gear | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

He has a Rugby World Cup winner's medal, and now Hosea Gear may be able to add a Sevens World Series one to his collection.

Gear has been named in the 12-man squad for the Wellington leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series this weekend.

The 27-year-old took part in the Mount Maunganui Sevens last weekend to help gain fitness and experience playing the shorter version of the game.

Gear who has played eight tests for the All Blacks, scoring five tries, took part in the tournament with fellow sevens team-mates Lote Raikabula and Bryce Heem.

"I loved it. It was a good chance for me to get some sevens game time under my belt. It's been pretty tough coming out of 15s into sevens obviously fitness wise," said Gear.

Along with Gear, New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has named two new caps in his New Zealand Sevens side to compete at the Hertz Sevens in Wellington.

Wellington's 18-year-old Ardie Savea, the younger brother of Hurricane and former New Zealand Sevens player Julian Savea, will make his New Zealand Sevens debut in his home town.

Hawke's Bay's Mark Jackman will also don the New Zealand jersey for the first time. Jackman hails from Canterbury and is a product of the Christchurch Boys High School rugby fraternity.

Tietjens said picking the side was challenging.

"All the players have really stepped it up a notch in the past few days and trained really well, making this a very difficult team to pick.

"We love the support we get here in Wellington and this tournament is always one of the highlights on the HSBC Sevens World Series but this also makes it one of the toughest to win," he said.

The Wellington Sevens get under way on Friday.

New Zealand Sevens Squad; Toby Arnold, Tomasi Cama, DJ Forbes, Hosea Gear, Frank Halai, Bryce Heem, Mark Jackman, Solomon King, Tim Mikkelson, Charles Piutau, Lote Raikabula, Ardie Savea.