The final squads of 12 have been declared by all 16 teams set to compete in the NZI Sevens in Wellington, and one notable inclusion is Sevens rugby's most capped player, Uale Mai.

Mai had announced a muted retirement from Sevens last season and played no part in Dubai or South Africa in December, but now returns to play in his 62nd event.

He rejoins the Samoan squad with another former captain, Ofisa Treviranus, as they prepare to take on France, Canada and Argentina, who themselves recall the sport's second most capped player, Santiago Gomez Cora.

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Samoa won the Cup title here in 2007 - their first ever in IRB Sevens rugby - and lost the Cup final against New Zealand in 2008, but last year fell from grace and lost against Niue in the Shield semi finals.

New coach Stephen Betham is now hoping that a stronger bench can propel them back to their former glories.

Video: Uale Mai, Ofisa Treviranus, Stephen Betham (Samoa)



Defending Wellington champions England include in their squad only two of the players who started last year's final against New Zealand, Ben Gollings and this season's captain Kevin Barrett.

Coach Ben Ryan was forced to replace injured forward Isoa Damu shortly before leaving for New Zealand, a body blow given Damu's superb form so far this season. England take on USA, Kenya and Tonga, who blood 11 new players.

In another tough group, World Series leaders New Zealand line up against reigning champions South Africa, and also face matches against Sevens World Cup winners Wales and the islanders of Niue.

NZ coach Gordon Tietjens has understandably retained the core of the squad that started the new season so well in winning in both Dubai and George but does include Samoan-born forward Fritz Lee, a player he believes could be a genuine star of the future.

Fiji coach Iliesa Tanivula has been unable to recall the injured Nasoni Roko and Lepani Nabuliwaqa, but has called up two members of the Police team who have impressed in local competition this season, Waisale Beci and Josevata Bole.

Fiji are currently second in the World Series race and line up against Australia, Scotland and the little-known Puk Puks of Papua New Guinea, who qualified for the event by excelling at the Oceania Sevens in Tahiti and now have as their coach the great Fijian maestro Waisale Serevi.

Classic video: Relive last year's NZI Sevens final - England v NZ