FORMER New Zealand 7s captain DJ Forbes has announced his pick for the McDonald’s Ambassador All Stars team.
Forbes has picked his 18-year old nephew Jarell Luafalealo to represent him in the McDonald’s All Star Team.
Luafalealo is following in his uncles footsteps looking to make a name for himself in the world of rugby 7s.
He will be looking to make an impact when he enters the field at Lawaqa Park in January next year.
During the announcement DJ Forbes said; “I want to announce my McDonald’s All Star Team pick and he is my nephew Jarell Luafalealo, I thought it will be a good opportunity to keep him in the family scene he is representing my jersey,” Forbes said.
Forbes added on explaining his relations to Jarell.
“His late grandmother was my mum’s sister so I’m uncle DJ to him and he has also followed a similar path to play 7s or 15s as a loose forward in 15s and went to the same high school as me.
“A rising star in school rugby and currently plays some age grade rugby as we speak so I’m looking forward to see him rubbing shoulders with some of the great so all the best for the tournament,” Forbes explained.
Derek Jamie “DJ” Forbes (born December 15, 1982) is a New Zealand former rugby union player and captain of the All Blacks Sevens team.
Forbes is part Samoan and played rugby fifteens as a loose forward for Counties Manukau.
Forbes was born in Auckland, New Zealand.
Since receiving the captaincy role in 2006, he played in over 80 tournaments, won six Sevens Series titles and won one gold and one silver Commonwealth Games medals.
Forbes stepped down as captain for the All Blacks Sevens to concentrate on earning a spot in the team for the 2016 Olympics.
His uncle is the late former Samoan international Peter Fatialofa.
Forbes was awarded the 2008 New Zealand Samoan Sportsperson of the year.
He announced his retirement from rugby sevens in 2017.
He appeared in 512 games in 89 tournaments and won six World Series.
