The athletes who will represent New Zealand in Rugby Sevens at the Olympics for the first time has been named but All Blacks veteran Liam Messam has missed out.
The 12 players in both the men’s and women’s team were revealed at a special announcement at Eden Park this afternoon.
New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew said the announcement marked an historic day for rugby.
“This is the first time our male and female players have been to an Olympic Games and marks rugby’s return to the Games for the first time since 1924. This will be a truly inspiring moment in rugby and Olympic history.”
“We know the challenge to bring home gold will be tough. Sevens has become fiercely competitive, but we believe the teams will be in great shape to perform come August.”
Chief Executive of High Performance Sport New Zealand Alex Baumann said with the introduction of sevens to the Games they are excited by the potential and quality of the squads announced.
“I am delighted to see our investment and performance support reflected through the sevens medal potential and would like to congratulate all the athletes selected.”
“We know it’s a big challenge, but we’ve trained hard. We have the ability, and the character to cope with all that may come our way and we’re very determined to build a legacy for rugby at the Olympics.”
“We know we have one of the first opportunities to win a medal for New Zealand so we’re determined to get the Games off to a great start and help our other team-mates.”
The men’s team features the return of Scott Curry who will captain the side for the first time since injuring his shoulder at the Dubai Sevens last December.
Men’s Rugby Sevens team:
Scott Curry (captain) (Bay of Plenty)
Sam Dickson (Canterbury)
DJ Forbes (Counties Manukau)
Akira Ioane (Auckland)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
Gillies Kaka (Hawke’s Bay)
Tim Mikkelson (Waikato)
Augustine Pulu (Counties Manukau)
Teddy Stanaway (Bay of Plenty)
Regan Ware (Waikato)
Joe Webber (Waikato)
Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau)
Travelling reserves; Sione Molia (Counties Manukau), Lewis Ormond (Taranaki),
Messam was the notable omission from the men’s team.
Sonny Bill Williams was named but Kurt Baker missed out, and it is expected Messam will now rejoin his old Super Rugby side the Chiefs for the remainder of their 2016 title-chasing campaign.