In-demand teen left out of team

Etene Nanai-Seturo is the most notable omission from the New Zealand men’s sevens squad for the Commonwealth Games.

The contract dispute between the Warriors and New Zealand Rugby for the talented teen ended in February after both parties reached an agreement, so NanaiSeturo was free to play in World Sevens Series tournaments in Las Vegas and Vancouver earlier this month.

But the 18-year-old, who was the hot topic at last month’s inaugural Hamilton Sevens when showing glimpses of his immense talent, wasn’t included when New Zealand’s men’s and women’s teams were announced yesterday for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next month.

There were few surprises in the women’s team which features nine players who won silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but men’s coach Clark Laidlaw had some ‘‘really tight calls’’ to make when trimming his team to 13.

Nanai-Seturo was in that bracket and misses out after featuring in the last four events on the sevens circuit in Sydney, Hamilton, Las Vegas and Vancouver.

‘‘He was obviously disappointed but he wasn’t dropping his bottom lip and he’s trained really well this week,’’ Laidlaw said.

Another absentee is Fijian-born Auckland winger Joe Ravouvou, a regular in the squad of late, but Laidlaw said he was never available because he doesn’t qualify to represent New Zealand in the Commonwealth Games due to not having a New Zealand passport.

Veteran sevens star Tim Mikkelson has been deemed fit enough for selection after a rib injury ruled him out of the Vancouver Sevens, while Otago flier Vilimoni Koroi has also made the cut despite a knee injury which threatened to curtail his season.

Fiji are returning to the Commonwealth

Games men’s sevens tournament for the first time since the 2006 Games in Melbourne.

Black Ferns ace Portia Woodman spearheads an experienced women’s team playing at the Games for the first time.

New Zealand were hammered 31-0 by reigning Olympic champions Australia in their last outing in the final of women’s tournament at the Sydney Sevens back in January and the Australians will be hot favourites on the Gold Coast.