All Blacks No. 8 Kieran Read has turned down the opportunity to play for New Zealand in the rugby sevens tournament at next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The rangy loose forward follows flyhalf Aaron Cruden in deciding not to try and win gold in the event when the shortened form of rugby returns to the Olympic schedule for the first time since 1924.
“I was [keen to go Rio], but I won’t be,” Read told reporters in Christchurch yesterday. “It would be a hell of an opportunity, but I will probably focus on making the All Blacks team.”
Photo: AFP
Read is the presumptive favorite to replace Richie McCaw as All Blacks captain when the fellow loose forward retires from the game, which is expected to be at the conclusion of the World Cup later this year.
The All Blacks also face a challenging year next year, with several highly experienced players taking up lucrative European contracts, while others like McCaw, Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu are expected to retire.
“There is also the leadership [role] within the All Blacks as well, which is probably a bigger part of [the decision],” Read said, adding that he had spoken to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen about the challenges next year.
Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has said that any All Blacks interested in the Olympics squad would need to play several tournaments on the Sevens World Series, meaning they would miss about six rounds of next year’s Super Rugby tournament.
They would also likely miss all of the All Blacks Tests next year until the end-of-season tour.
The All Blacks host Wales for a three-Test series in June next year ahead of the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship.
Local media have reported that Julian Savea, his younger brother Ardie, Liam Messam, Ben Smith, Victor Vito, Hosea Gear and Beauden Barrett are considering whether to play in Rio, with a preliminary expanded squad expected to be named by late next month.
All have played for the Sevens side in the past, while code-hopping center Sonny Bill Williams has also said he was interested in playing at the Olympics.
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