SONNY BILL WILLIAMS is one of a number of All Blacks set to be targeted to run out for New Zealand in the 2016 Olympic Games’ rugby Sevens.
The Rio de Janeiro Games will be the first to include rugby, with world champions New Zealand likely to be installed as one of the favourites for gold.
Savea brothers Ardie and Julian, Liam Messam and Charles Piutau are among a group of All Blacks reportedly in the thoughts of sevens coach Gordon Tietjens, alongside Williams.
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New Zealand Rugby general manager Neil Sorensen and player relationship manager Ben Castle have been tasked with ascertaining which All Blacks players will be chosen to supplement a core of existing sevens regulars.
“Ben and I are going around in the next couple of months to talk to players. Titch [Tietjens] may be interested in about how it might work in 2016 in terms of whether they can play any Super Rugby and how many sevens tournaments they’d have to play,” Sorensen said.
It’s going to be personalised to a large extent. The Super Rugby teams need to know sooner than later so they can talk to other players. Knocking it off in May this year gives everyone certainty.
“You’re looking at a mix of specialist gurus, the experts who have played sevens for a few years, and a smattering of other players like Sonny Bill.
“I certainly don’t see it being eight All Blacks and four other guys. It won’t work like that.”
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SONNY BILL WILLIAMS is one of a number of All Blacks set to be targeted to run out for New Zealand in the 2016 Olympic Games’ rugby Sevens.
The Rio de Janeiro Games will be the first to include rugby, with world champions New Zealand likely to be installed as one of the favourites for gold.
Savea brothers Ardie and Julian, Liam Messam and Charles Piutau are among a group of All Blacks reportedly in the thoughts of sevens coach Gordon Tietjens, alongside Williams.
New Zealand Rugby general manager Neil Sorensen and player relationship manager Ben Castle have been tasked with ascertaining which All Blacks players will be chosen to supplement a core of existing sevens regulars.
“Ben and I are going around in the next couple of months to talk to players. Titch [Tietjens] may be interested in about how it might work in 2016 in terms of whether they can play any Super Rugby and how many sevens tournaments they’d have to play,” Sorensen said.
“You’re looking at a mix of specialist gurus, the experts who have played sevens for a few years, and a smattering of other players like Sonny Bill.
“I certainly don’t see it being eight All Blacks and four other guys. It won’t work like that.”
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Black gold Going For Gold New Zealand Olympics Rugby Union Sonny Williams