Curtis and Taramai in All Blacks Sevens team for Dubai and South Africa

Ambrose Curtis (Oriental-Rongotai - pictured above) and Murphy Taramai (Upper Hutt Rams) have both been named today in the All Blacks Sevens team for the first two legs of the Sevens World Series in Dubai and South Africa.

The season opening Dubai tournament is next weekend, 5-6 December, while the South African leg in Port Elizabeth is the following weekend on 13 and 14 December.

Last season’s World Rugby Sevens Rookie of the Year Curtis returns to the side for the start of his second full season, while Taramai is one of two caps alongside Sam Vaka.

It features two new caps in Murphy Taramai and Sam Vaka out of Counties Manukau.

The team is: Kurt Baker, Scott Curry, Ambrose Curtis, Sam Dickson, DJ Forbes (c), Gillies Kaka, Tim Mikkelson, Declan O'Donnell, Sherwin Stowers, Murphy Taramai, Joe Webber, Sam Vaka ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

All Backs Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens said he was very excited to have two impressive young players making their debut in Dubai.??Wellington loose forward Taramai (aged 22) came to Tietjen’s attention during the recent Central Coast Sevens tournament north of Syndey, while centre Sam Vaka (22) also grasped his opportunity this week.

“They are both very enthusiastic young men who have really grown as sevens players in the last few weeks. They certainly stepped up when it mattered today," said Tietjens.

“They are both very skilful and understand the game really well for two players who are still young.

“Murphy is just very abrasive in contact areas. He’s a great passer of the ball as well. The advantage he brings is as a ball carrier – he is very strong, breaks tackles and he’s??just got an instinct for the try line.

“Sam Vaka has also worked hard this week. He is very quick, has a lovely step and is very physical. He’s someone who just has an x factor and can score from 50 or 60 metres out because of his pace.”

New Zealand will be represented in Dubai by a rare brother and sister combination with Waikato wing Joe Webber joining his sister Jordan in the New Zealand teams.

Highlanders back Kurt Baker returns to the team for the first time since the World Cup in Moscow last year. Tietjens acknowledged the support of the Highlanders in freeing him up to play the Dubai and South Africa tournaments.

“He’s a very good sevens player," said Tietjens. "He’s very fit and understands the game very well. He??certainly deserves his spot and was probably the player of the trial.”

In Dubai the All Blacks Sevens are up against Scotland in their first pool game, followed by Japan and Samoa. The team currently sits fifth in the World Series after the first tournament in October on the Gold Coast.

“Gold Coast was disappointing and we haven’t done particularly well in Dubai over the last couple of years. But I have a good feeling after naming the side. The hunger I saw out there today was really noticeable and if we can start off??in that first game and gather a lot of confidence we will have a good one.”

The team departs for Dubai on Sunday evening.