All Blacks eye Sevens switch

[beige]

All Black Liam Messam is considering switching to Sevens rugby as the chance to win Olympic gold threatens to lure players from the 15-a-side ranks for the 2016 Rio Games.

Code-hopping former All Black Sonny Bill Williams, who has crossed back to rugby league, is also reported to be planning a return to union in time to try out for the New Zealand squad heading to the Olympics.

The shortened form of the game becomes a full medal sport in Rio, a year after the next Rugby World Cup in England.

"It's something that's definitely on my bucket list. It'll be pretty cool to try and compete for an Olympic gold medal, and Sevens is close to my heart and it always will be," said Messam.

New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens, who has steered his side to victory in 10 of the thirteen Sevens World Series, has already begun assembling a core group of players to form the nucleus of a potential Olympic squad.

He has also won approval from the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) to raid Super Rugby sides and take one player from each of the five New Zealand franchises to this year's Sevens World Cup in June.

The NZRU has told New Zealand's elite players that if they want to go to the Olympics they will not be allowed to play Super Rugby or Tests in 2016.

"Come 2016 we want to provide opportunities for Super Rugby players and All Blacks should they choose to have a crack at Sevens to be in the frame to go to Rio," said NZRU high performance manager Don Tricker.

"What that means in 2016 is complete immersion in Sevens, so they will not be playing in any other forms of the game in that one year."

Read more: http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...476918,00.html

[blueandblack]

deceptive title. I thought the whole lot of the all blacks were going to 7s. oh well.

[brokendown gunfighter]

much ado about nothing

again


meanwhile: memo to self-pack berocca for tomorrow

[PeterM]

I certainly can't blame the guys for wanting the opportunity to chase an Olympic medal SBW has won titles in league and in union and has been apart of a world cup winning rugby union side why not fight for boxing titles and go for an Olympic medal

For someone to have the skills he has and to make the most of them the way he has and is planning to I commend him. I know his personal style is a little like Vegemite but I am looking at this soley on the basis as a professional sports person

[travelling_gerry]

You never know, SBW could win a Gold medal and eventually be offered a Senators job!

[Sheikh]

You never know, SBW could win a Gold medal and eventually be offered a Senators job!

Which he'd then step down from and run for President of Malaysia?

[shasta]

I certainly can't blame the guys for wanting the opportunity to chase an Olympic an Olympic planning to I commend him.

In SBW's case, he's said he intends to go back to NZ Rugby in an effort to be selected for the All Blacks' 2015 RWC squad. So it's probable he'll play just 1 season in RL.
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