Clark to lead fledgling Aussies

NSW Waratahs scrum-half Tim Clark will lead the Australian charge for the first two legs of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens world tour which starts in Dubai on December 2.

Eleven players have been named, with five more players battling it out for the 12th and final spot on the team. That last place will be announced on Friday, making for a highly competitive training camp in Sydney this week.

The final team of 12 flies out on Sunday for the Dubai leg on December 2-3, followed by the George Sevens in South Africa on December 10-11.

Tim Clark is among nine newcomers to the international Sevens circuit. He said he jumped at the chance to represent Australia in Sevens after the disappointment of missing a contract with the Waratahs for next year.

"It is an honour to be named captain of an Australian team. This is an opportunity to lead a group of guys who are really keen to perform at the international level, said Clark in an ARU statement.

"From a team point of view, it is the chance for a group of talented young players to stake their claims for higher representative honours.

"It is a young side, with only a couple of guys with experience at this level of Sevens, but we have been training hard over the last five weeks and really coming together as a team.

Australian Sevens squad for Dubai and George: Tim Clark (captain), Matt Hodgson (vice captain), Andrew Brown, Josh Gamgee, Luke Inman, Wise Kativerata, Shawn Mackay, James Morgan, Nick Reily, Ant Sauer, James Sua.

*The 12th team member will be selected on Friday from the following players: Tim Aistrope, Tom Coupier, Kacey Mitchell, Toby Spencer, Acura Niuqila