David Campese was lured out of retirement from international rugby yesterday when he was named captain of the Australian Sevens team to play tournaments in Argentina and Uruguay next month.

It was believed that former Test great Campese had retired from all forms of international rugby after the World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong earlier this year.

Wallaby assistant coach Tim Lane, acting as manager-coach for the first time, picked a squad of 11 players for the Mar del Plata Sevens in Argentina on January 6 and 7 and Punta del Este Sevens in Uruguay on January 10 and 11.

Campese, Ryan Constable, John Moss, and Semi Taupeaafe represented Australia in Hong Kong, while Nicholas Gregorski, Nick Lavelle and Cullum Hughes played for Australia at under-21 level.

The Australian Sevens team will play in nine international tournaments next year, culminating in the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in September.