Young sevens star Etene Nanai-Seturo has been rushed to the Gold Coast as the New Zealand men's team suffers a high injury toll in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand played Australia in a warm-up match last Friday, but a second match was called off due to the NZ team's high injury toll.
That night, Australia's captain James Stannard was the victim of a coward punch and was ruled out of the games.
As a result of NZ"s injury crisis, Nanai-Seturo has been called into the squad.
He was on the same flight as 1 NEWS crew travelling to the Gold Coast, and told sports reporter Matt Manukia he had been called up.
The teen had been subject to a tug-of-war between New Zealand Rugby and the Warriors NRL club, having signed a contract with the latter, before deciding his future lay with rugby.
The sevens team travel to Hong Kong, before returning to Australia for the Commonwealth Games.
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