New Zealand / Sport

Three decorated Sevens players to retire

15:41 pm on 8 November 2024

Sam Dickson, Tim Mikkelson and Scott Curry. Photo: Photosport collage

The All Blacks Sevens are set to lose leadership and decades of experience as Scott Curry, Tim Mikkelson and Sam Dickson call time on their international careers.

The trio have all captained the side at some point during their lengthy careers and have World Series, World Cup and Commonwealth Games titles to their names.

Mikkelson is the most experienced player of the three, earning the most caps of any player in All Blacks Sevens history (104 caps) after making his debut in 2007 and is the second most capped player in international sevens history.

He was also the fourth highest try scorer in the game.

Long serving captain of the team, Curry goes out still as one of the world's leading forwards after an impressive performance at the Paris Olympics where the men missed out on the medals.

Curry debuted in 2010 and had played 71 times for the team.

Dickson, who was the most recent of the three to captain the side, made his debut in 2012 and attended three Commonwealth Games and three Sevens Rugby World Cups.

New Zealand Rugby's head of men's high performance Mike Anthony said the players had "made a significant contribution on and off the field" to the All Blacks Sevens.

"They have left an incredible mark on the game and have added to the legacy of the All Blacks Sevens.

"The success they have had in the black jersey is credit to their leadership, work ethic and dedication to the game."

While Dickson has confirmed his retirement from all rugby, Mikkelson and Curry are stepping back from professional rugby.

Player achievements

Tim Mikkelson

All Blacks Sevens number: 190

Debut: George 2007

World Series Crowns: Seven

World Cup Victories: 2013, 2018

Olympics: Silver medal 2021

Commonwealth Games: Gold Medal 2010, 2018, Silver medal 2014

Individual achievements: Fourth highest try scorer in World Series History, 2013 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, 2011 New Zealand Rugby Sevens Player of the Year.

Scott Curry

All Blacks Sevens number: 216

Debut: Dubai 2010

World Series Crowns: Six

World Cup Victories: 2018

Olympics: Silver medal 2021

Commonwealth Games: Gold medal 2018, Silver medal 2014

Individual achievements: New Zealand Rugby Sevens Player of the Year 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021.

Sam Dickson

All Blacks Sevens number: 241

Debut: Dubai 2012

World Series Crowns: Four

World Cup Victories: 2018

Commonwealth Games: Gold medal 2018, Silver medal 2014, Bronze medal 2022

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.