Devastation As Teddy Stanaway Ruled Out Of Olympics
- Publish Date
- Thursday, 4 August 2016, 8:18AM
A late change to the All Blacks Sevens team for the Olympics.
Teddy Stanaway has suffered a hand injury in the team's training camp in Florida and has been replaced by Lewis Ormond.
Liam Messam has been called to Rio on standby and will stay outside the Olympic village.
Coach Sir Gordan Tietjens said he injured his hand "at the point of contact in some part of the game we played against them, had a hand fracture and unfortunately, though we gave it a bit of time we tested him and he didn't really pass the test. Couldn't grip."
Tietjens said it's a tough blow for Stanaway.
"It's devastating for him, but he took it so well. He has family coming over, which was for him huge, to have that support in your first Olympic games, and then all of a sudden to be ruled out through injury."
Meanwhile Sonny Bill Williams has been centre of attention with the All Blacks Sevens team fronting the media for the first time in Rio.
A large international media contingent has turned up to talk to the team's highest profile player who will head straight into the All Blacks camp after the Olympics.
Williams is adamant he can transition quickly back into test match rugby.
"As you can tell, with how Ardie Savea went and young Reiko (Ioane) - he was the best winger in Super Rugby this year before he came back to us, so hopefully I can do something like that as well when I go back."
via Radio Sport