WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A few years ago, seeing New Zealand in seventh place in the World Sevens Series would have been unthinkable.
But that is the reality for the 12-time champions as sevens rugby heads into its biggest year yet with one noticeable trend — the competition is tougher than ever.
Rugby’s return to the Olympics means the focus this year will be on sevens, the shorter, more dynamic and less complicated version of the sport that will be played at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Just weeks after New Zealand’s All Blacks won their second straight Rugby World Cup, the New Zealand sevens team was beginning its march to Rio with a lot less fanfare and success in the World Sevens Series, the top level of competition in the sport.