SINGAPORE - All-time leading points scorer in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Ben Gollings and former New Zealand Sevens captain DJ Forbes have been appointed ambassadors for this year's Singapore Rugby Sevens, organisers Rugby Singapore announced on Friday (March 9).

England's Gollings retired in 2011 with a record tally of 2,652 points. The 37-year-old former fly-half moved to coaching and had worked with the Singapore Rugby Union to prepare the national men's and women's sevens teams for last year's SEA Games.

Both sides won silver in Kuala Lumpur.

Gollings said in the press release: "I had a great time working with the Singapore national sevens team in their SEA Games medal quest last year and am delighted with this opportunity to build on that.

"Singapore's continual effort to spread the gospel of rugby is commendable and there is so much potential for sevens in this region. I want to play my part in helping to make the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens a success."

Forbes won six World Series with the All Blacks and a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The 35-year-old, who retired last year, said: "Sevens is one of the fastest growing team sports in the world and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is a perfect showcases for the stars and budding talents.

"Coming from a Samoan heritage, where family occupies a big part of daily life, I'm delighted with Singapore's push to make the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens a family-friendly event.

Rugby Singapore chairman David Lim added: "Ben and DJ are both giants in the sevens game and played massively influential roles in making the game what it is today.

"Ben's past association with the SRU makes him a natural ambassador for Singapore while DJ's undoubted popularity will help us make greater connection with the Singapore public as we continue to build the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens into a family-friendly carnival."

This year's edition at the National Stadium will be held from April 28-29.

Tickets are available at www.singapore7s.sg.