Rugby Union: Kiwis geared up to defend title

THE DUBAI Rugby Sevens kicks off this week with Fiji's mantle as the kings of the running game under threat from a strong New Zealand squad defending their title.

The Kiwis, gold medallists at the Commonwealth Games in September, have lost their captain, Eric Rush, to injury. However, the coach, Gordon Tietjens, says he expects a strong showing, with fellow veteran Dallas Seymour taking over the captaincy.

The New Zealanders include the highly rated 19-year-old Rico Gear. "He has a lot of vision and is quick," Tietjens said. "He's a good sevens talent and very much one for the future."

Fiji have been training hard in an effort to take the pounds 15,000 first prize and avenge last year's narrow loss in the final. But Western Samoa, with the hard-hitting prop One Hunga, are also highly rated and Rory Underwood's England select should prove no pushovers.

The competition also involves Tonga, France, Scotland, Canada, the United States and rank outsiders Morocco and Chinese Taipei.

Pat Howard and Fritz van Heerden return to the Leicester side following a six-week absence in tomorrow night's tour game against Fiji at Welford Road. Australian centre Howard (broken jaw) and South African lock van Heerden (toe injury) were both hurt during Leicester's defeat by London Irish on 20 October.

The Tigers, Allied Dunbar Premiership leaders, will hope that both players emerge unscathed ahead of a tough trip to the League champions, Newcastle, in 11 days' time.

"It is a big return for both of them in what is a very big game," the Leicester manager, Dean Richards, said. "Fiji will want to finish their tour in style, and have only lost one match so far. It's our aim to make that two defeats, and the comebacks of Pat and Fritz can only help."

Scotland's crushing 85-11 victory over Portugal on Saturday was put in perspective yesterday as the Iberian visitors changed over half the side for their own World Cup meeting with Spain at Murrayfield tonight. Only three of the XV which started against Jim Telfer's side begin in the same positions against the Spanish, confirming the suspicion that Scotland were facing what amounted to a second-string Portuguese side.

In all there are eight new faces in the starting line-up, with four further positional changes, the versatile flanker Miguel Portela finding himself on the left wing.