The Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd says he's more than happy for a couple of his players to try and get into the New Zealand Sevens team for next year's Olympics.
Winger Julian Savea in action for the Hurricanes. Photo: Photosport
Winger Julian Savea, who re-signed with New Zealand Rugby yesterday, says he's discussed the matter with Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens and hopes to make a decision in the next couple of weeks.
Boyd says he can understand a players desire to get to Rio.
"The lure for those guys is not playing sevens otherwise they'd be playing sevens now."
"The lure is the fact that they're elite professional athletes and they don't ever get the opportunity to go to one of the great sporting spectacles in the world."
"I can understand why a young man would want to go to Rio, they're not going there to play sevens they're going there to have a chance of winning a gold medal."
Boyd says the arrangement with a player trying to make the Olympic sevens team is that they would still be available for a big chunk of the Super Rugby competition.
"We know exactly what the criteria is and I'm comfortable and relaxed about it."
"If any of our guys, and I'm assuming there will be, it hasn't yet been announced but if any of them play (at the Rio Olympics) they'll play some part in the Hurricanes next year for sure."
Chris Boyd could also be without first five Beauden Barrett for part of next season as he is also understood to be interested in going to the Olympics.