At 30 years old Bay of Plenty's Matt Clutterbuck could be forgiven for giving up on any aspirations of fulfilling a Kiwi boy's dream – representing New Zealand on the world stage.

But in a move shocking Clutterbuck a fortnight ago, All Black Sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens tapped him on the shoulder about the possibility of making that dream a reality.

Bay of Plenty's Matt Clutterbuck training at the Bay of Plenty Rugby hangar on Monday. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

He now finds himself ensconced in the All Black Sevens development squad preparing for this weekend's Oceania tournament in Noosa, Australia – one of five debutants to the side.

'It's bit of an honour. I'm just really excited and really looking forward to the next week or two.

Making the development cut doesn't automatically secure Clutterbuck a spot in the final squad for the upcoming World Series but he is determined to make every post a winner on the way.

The Oceania tournament is an opportunity for Sir Titch to blood in new players and for players needing game time, to contest for a spot in the All Blacks Sevens team to play the first leg of the 2014/2015 HSBC Sevens World Series tournaments on the Gold Coast.

And it has been a long road for the self-proclaimed 'grafter” plying his trade in Otago and Northland before relocating to the Bay and Rangataua two years ago.

Never giving up hope and living off a diet of club and provincial rugby in past seasons, he knows he is a little longer in the tooth than most All Black Sevens debutants – but this will not stand against him.

'It's been a goal of mine and I just have to push them [younger players] along and it's just a good challenge to keep up with the young fellas,” says Clutterbuck.

'Every rugby player and athlete do hang on to their dream until they finally retire I guess. So I have still been hanging on to that dream and its sort of come to life lately.”

Clutterbuck is joined by Steamers wing Junior Tofa Va'a, 22, on the trip to Australia in the one chance to impress Sir Titch before the opening leg of the World Series at Surfers Paradise.

'He [Sir Titch] just wants me to keep doing my core roles, nothing flash just graft away which is my strength. I'm not a ball player so just have to stick to my core role.”

The squad departs for Noosa today with the tournament starting Friday.