Thursday’s rugby news has Men’s Sevens team knocked out, ARU launch university Sevens competition, Henry Speight to return in the NRC and New Zealand Sevens team out of Rio.
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Men’s Sevens Knocked Out
The Aussie Men’s team have been knocked out of the Olympics after they were beaten by South Africa 22-5 in the quarter final.
Australia had beaten South Africa earlier in the day 12-5 in their last pool game but were unable to repeat it for the quarter final.
South Africa scored two early tries before Tom Cusack crashed over for Australia just before half time to bring the score to 10-5.
South Africa then scored another two tries in the second half to put the match out of reach for the Aussies.
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ARU Launch 7s Comp
Following the gold medal success of the Australian Women’s Sevens team, the ARU have announced a national women’s sevens university competition from 2017.
“Yesterday our Australian Women’s Sevens team became heroes for thousands of young girls and boys across the nation who will dream of growing up and playing Rugby in the Olympics, just like them,” ARU CEO Bill Pulver said.
“When we centralised our national women’s and men’s programs and made them full-time athletes, we made an investment in their future and have subsequently seen them blossom as players and as role models.
“On the back of their success, we will open up new Sevens pathways in schools, clubs and universities around the country so that more young girls and boys than ever before will have the chance to work towards their dream of representing their country at the Olympic Games.”
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Speight for NRC Return
Henry Speight is set to return to the 15 man form of the game in the NRC with the UC Vikings.
Speight has not played a match of the traditional format since round 4 of Super Rugby in which he fractured a bone above his eye.
He is currently in Rio as a reserve for the Australian Sevens team.
Vikings coach Dan McKellar hopes to go one better this year in the NRC after finishing runners up last year.
“Our goal is to win the competition and I think our squad is definitely capable of achieving that benchmark,” he said.
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NZ Out
New Zealand have also been knocked out of the Olympics after a 12-7 quarter-final loss to Fiji.
New Zealand scraped into the quarter finals as the top-seeded third place team.
The loss caps off a disappointing tournament for the team who lost to Japan and suffered injuries to Sonny Bill Williams and Joe Webber.
Japan has continued their run in the tournament with a win over France in their quarter-final.
They will meet Great Britain next who won an extra-time thriller over Argentina.
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