World Rugby cannot speculate on who may or may not turn out for their respective nations at next year’s Olympic Games. However, there is no hiding from the fact that rugby’s shorter form is taking up more column inches than ever before in news publications around the world and here we provide the latest Olympic rugby sevens team buzz feed.
COOPER IN TOULON U-TURN?
Reports from Australia are suggesting that fly-half Quade Cooper may not follow in the footsteps of Wallaby team-mates Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell after all. Instead, it is thought the 27-year-old will turn his back on a proposed move to Toulon in France to stay at home in a bid to make Australia’s rugby sevens team for next year’s Olympics.
CHIEFS SET TO LOSE LIAM MESSAM AND SONNY BILL WILLIAMS TO SEVENS
Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie confirmed his captain Messam was going to focus totally on sevens next year in a bid to make the New Zealand team for the Rio Olympic Games, while it’s looking likely that Williams will join him.
ALL BLACK LIAM MESSAM TO PLAY SEASON IN JAPAN AFTER THE RWC
Reports in New Zealand suggest that All Black flanker and former national sevens captain Liam Messam will play in Japan next year, fuelling speculation that he is inline for sevens selection.
SPORT: FIJI OVERSEAS PLAYERS MOOTED FOR OLYMPIC SEVENS
Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan says any overseas-based players will have to play in at least two World Series tournaments next season to be considered for their Olympic team.
SAMOA ON HUNT FOR NEW COACH
The Samoa Rugby Union has received 29 applications to coach its sevens team including international interest from New Zealand, Fiji and Europe.
The team has had a number of disappointing performances, sinking to its 10th place finish in 2014-15 in the World Series standings from number one in 2009-10 when they won the title for the first and only time.
SAVEA WEIGHING SEVENS OPTIONS
All Black wing Julian Savea has committed his playing future to New Zealand and needs to decide shortly if that includes making himself available for next year’s Olympic sevens campaign.
CHRIS WYLES JOINS EAGLES SEVENS FOR NACRA CHAMPIONSHIP
The former USA Sevens captain will join residency athletes and additional men’s eagles sevens pool players at a NACRA Sevens selection camp.
GREAT BRITAIN SEVENS REVEAL SELECTION POLICY AHEAD OF 2016 RIO OLYMPICS
Great Britain Rugby Sevens reveals the selection criteria for players hoping to be part of the squad for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
FOLEY CONCEDES OLYMPIC SEVENS MAY BE OUT
Wallaby five-eighth Bernard Foley concedes it may not be possible for him to play sevens for Australia at the 2016 Olympics.
TIETJENS EYES ABS FOR RIO SEVENS SQUAD
The 12-time Series winning mastermind, Sir Gordon Tietjens, lays down his ground rules for New Zealand’s All Blacks wanting to go to Rio.
