It's tough as Arnold chases NZ jersey | Bay of Plenty Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Bay of Plenty

Steamers fullback Toby Arnold has a week of horrendous toil ahead of him but a black jersey may beckon at the end.

The 22-year-old has been selected for next week's New Zealand sevens camp in Mount Maunganui, where 16 players will fight to be included in the 12-strong squad for the opening IRB world series tournaments.

Arnold came through last week's camp in Auckland relatively well off, as 25 players - including Tauranga Sports teammate Matt Hodson - were put through a rigorous series of Gordon Tietjens sessions.

"So far, so good - I made the first cut so I'm pretty happy with that," Arnold said. "Everything you've heard about Titch and his trainings is true - my legs were shot after the last camp and they've only come right this week. We also had a whole lot of plays and moves that we've had to study up on as well."

Arnold and Zar Lawrence are the only Bay of Plenty players still in the running - and there will be plenty of that - next week, although the Bay sevens team may provide some live opposition.

Fresh faces at the camp include North Harbour's Ken Pisi, Counties wing Sherwin Stowers and Wellington backs Buxton Popoali'i and Shaun Treeby.

Tietjens has also been hit hard by Super 14 selections but several players have rejoined the sevens circuit with the Commonwealth Games looming on the horizon next year.

"Some of those guys got blooded last year and hopefully a lot of them will be better this time around," Tietjens said. "There are a few new guys who will bring a bit of excitement  plus we've got the likes of Onesai Tololima Auva'a, who was at the last Commonwealth Games, coming back."

Steamers wing Jason Hona won't be available after making the Chiefs wider training squad, while stalwarts Edwin Coker and Nigel Hunt are out with injury.

"Our selection right across the board is a lot leaner because they've just taken 45 of the top under-20s in New Zealand into a squad for the junior world cup and we can't pick any of them. That's a six-month programme so it's too late for us, plus we can't touch any wider training group players either."

Tietjens is looking forward to seeing Arnold again, after the young fullback impressed him during the Steamers' season. Arnold also clocked a 4.89sec standing 40m sprint time at last week's camp and came through well.

"He looks good - he's got some nice talent and he's very fit, with pace," Tietjens said. "He's got quite good vision for the game." 

Sevens training squad:

 Onosai Tololima Auva'a (Auckland), Toby Arnold (BOP), Kurt Baker (Manawatu), Tomasi Cama (Manawatu), DJ Forbes (Counties-Manukau), Paul Grant (Otago), Zar Lawrence (BOP), Ken Pisi (North Harbour), Buxton Popoali'i (Wellington), Lote Raikabula (Manawatu), Ben Souness (Taranaki), Sherwin Stowers (Counties-Manukau), Save Tokula (Waikato), Shaun Treeby (Wellington), Nafi Tuitavake (North Harbour), Chad Tuoro (Auckland).
Three Bay of Plenty players have been nominated for this year's New Zealand rugby awards.

Reporoa's Sam Cane is up for age grade player of the year, Zar Lawrence is in line for sevens player of the year and All Blacks first-five Mike Delany is a finalist in Air New Zealand Cup player of the year against Josh Bekhuis (Southland) and Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay). Guildford has been nominated in three categories.