truebluefan

A final squad of 12 will be selected next month for the opening tournaments of the 2007/2008 International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens World Series which are to be played in Dubai and South Africa in December.

Only seven members of Australia's 2006/07 squad, including veterans Ant Sauer (27) and Shawn Mackay (25), Nathan Trist, James Lew, Tim Cornforth, Tim Wright and Australian Under-19 flyer Blair Connor made it into the training squad.

Also called up from the Australian Under-19 side are Jeremy Sua, Ben McCalman and Mitch Inman.

Queensland Reds teammates Lloyd Johansson and Henari Veratau, Brumbies' Peter Kimlin and Waratahs' Tim Davidson all add a bit of Super 14 flavour to the Sevens mix, with Johansson being the only full International in the squad.

The 22-year-old earned his maiden Wallabies Test cap against New Zealand in Auckland in 2005.

It was also announced that Melbourne Rebels coach Bill Millard will fill the role of caretaker coach for the first two tournaments in the series, with a replacement due to be named in time for the Wellington tournament in February.

Millard, who coached the Australian Sevens side from the 2002/03 series until 2005, said that the training camp - the first of two - would quickly prove which of the players had the stamina and fitness required for Sevens.

"The coaching staff will work all these players to their absolute limits. We want to see who has not only the necessary skill levels, but also the strength and endurance to thrive in this format of the game," he said.

"An advantage we have on previous years is that the camp has come off the back of the Mazda ARC season, which has improved every aspect of their game, especially their skill levels and fitness."

"The Sevens program gives many of these players an opportunity to further their professional career and put forward their claims for a Super 14 contract," Millard concluded.