World Rugby Sevens Series
Sonny Bill to make All Blacks Sevens debut on road to Rio Olympics
AAP
January 25, 2016
Rugby mates Quade Cooper Sonny Bill Williams will make their Seven debut in Sydney and Wellington respectively
Rugby mates Quade Cooper Sonny Bill Williams will make their Seven debut in Sydney and Wellington respectively© Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Sonny Bill Williams will make his All Blacks Sevens debut in the Wellington leg of the World Series.

The dual rugby and league international is the one new cap in coach Sir Gordon Tietjens' 12-strong squad for the tournament this weekend.

Williams, who won a second Rugby World Cup winner's medal with the All Blacks last year, hopes to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.

The New Zealand line-up for Wellington also features brothers Akira and Rieko Ioane, who have each played for the All Blacks Sevens but will be making their first appearance together in the same event.

Wellington loose forward Ardie Savea returns to the side after featuring across six tournaments in 2012. Also back are Auckland wing Ben Lam and Taranaki outside back Kurt Baker, who both last played for the team in 2014.

New Zealand, the most successful country in the series' history, are seventh place on the points table after the first two rounds of this season's 10-tournament circuit.

Their Wellington pool opponents on Saturday are Russia, Scotland and South Africa.

All Blacks Sevens

Kurt Baker (Taranaki), Sam Dickson (Canterbury), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Gillies Kaka (Hawkes Bay), Ben Lam (Auckland), Tim Mikkelson (Waikato), Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau), Ardie Savea (Wellington), Regan Ware (Waikato), Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau), Joe Webber (Waikato).

© AAP

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