Tone Ng Shiu. Photo: photosport
It has been a long and difficult road back to the sevens field for Tone Ng Shiu.
The 29-year old is finally set to return from an ACL injury suffered back in 2022.
He said the mental battle on the sidelines was just as difficult as the physical rehabilitation.
"It wasn't easy. It was definitely a rollercoaster for me. Especially seeing the boys win last year, I just wanted to be part of every moment because that's why you play sevens, you want to win with your brothers, celebrate with your brothers, and not being on the field with them was just breaking me on the sideline."
Ng Shiu said his motivation came from his desire to attend another Olympic games.
"It's been a been a hell of a journey and reflecting back, it wasn't all smooth sailing. Normal ACLs come back in nine to 12 months, and I was getting close to that 16-month period. There have been a few setbacks."
However, he was able to see the positives.
"I guess there were blessings on the other side of it, like spending heaps of time with my twins, with my partner, making the best of it."
Ng Shiu said he was fizzing to get back on the field.
"Nerves are starting to creep in every day it comes close to tournament. I know I'll probably be a bit more nervous when I stand in that tunnel running out with the boys, but I love that adrenaline rush and hopefully it goes well."
He was faced with some unique challenges while laid up.
"I had to make sure that my bodyweight wasn't going through the roof. Otherwise, it would have been a struggle getting back into shape. I had to try and discipline myself.
"I feel for everyone that does do long term injuries whether it's shoulder or knee, I'm just so lucky and grateful to have a massive support crew around me when I had tough times. So grateful just reflecting back on it."
The New Zealand Sevens teams are back in action this weekend for the iconic Hong Kong leg of the World Series.
While the women sit just behind Australia at the top of the standings, the men have been struggling this year and sit down at sixth.
Photo: © Copyright Andrew Cornaga 2020 / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd
As well a chasing a third straight gold, the women will also celebrate Michaela Blyde's 50th tournament for New Zealand,
"I'm very very proud. I I love being a Black Ferns evens player. I love representing my country, and to do it 50 times is an honour," Blyde said.
When asked to name the highlight across her storied career, it was an easy choice, she said.
"You can't look past the Tokyo Olympics. I had a dream since I was five years old to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games. Whatever sport I fell the love with, and rugby sevens gave me that opportunity. So I will be forever grateful to the sport of rugby."
Of course the elephant in the room for both sides was the looming games in Paris in June, and both the men and women said they would be treating this weekend like a mini Olympics.
"It's important that you have those sort of marks along the way because it is such a long season and Hong Kong was the first point that we're going to say , 'this is where we really want to start shifting another gear.' And it's really important that we still keep our sights on the long term goal."