Sevens rugby

The rugby star is one of a number of players from the fifteen-a-side game at an All Blacks Sevens' camp in Cambridge, hoping to crack the squad for the Rio Olympics.

Williams said he thought league pre-season was tough - but it was nothing compared to Tietjens' expectations.

He's been in hospital in Cape Town since breaking his leg during the second round of the World Sevens series, but his coach Damian McGrath is optimistic that he won't be there too much longer.

Not only did he spend large chunks of his illustrious career there with Super Rugby outfits the Stormers and Western Province, but also as captain of the Springboks.

The Manu finished the Cape Town tournament on Monday with only nine fit players.

New Zealand were down to the bare minimum of seven at the end of the weekend while England also have a mounting casualty ward.

Damian McGrath says the looming debut of the Olympic sevens program has revolutionised the game as well as the demands on the players.

But the footballing minnows from Nauru stand in the way of the Australian men’s sevens team qualifying for next year’s Rio Olympics.

The tiny Pacific island is Australia’s first pool opponent in the Oceania Regional Olympic qualifier in Auckland this weekend.

To help prepare for the tournament the team went into camp last weekend — at the coach’s home — where they had team bonding, training, video sessions and team talks.

Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens interim Head Coach Tim Walsh has named an extended 15-man squad for the Oceania Regional Olympic Qualifier in Auckland (14-15 November).
 
Ed Jenkins skippers an experienced side that also includes 30 + cap veterans Jesse Parahi and Con Foley. Pama Fou, Greg Jeloudev and Henry Hutchison offer pace out wide while Wallaby Henry Speight, recently returned from 2015 Rugby World Cup duty, will also travel with the squad for the trip to New Zealand.