Wellington and Sydney - The Rugby Road to Rio

Welcome to 2016, the biggest year for Rugby, well the 7 a-side format anyway.

Why, you ask? Because the rugby code has been introduced back into the Olympics for the first time since 1924 with the shorter Sevens format being added to the Olympic programme for this year's Summer Olympics in Rio De Jeneiro, Brazil.

With a gold medal up for grabs later this year, the HSBC World 7s Series will be the most exciting series yet, as we look for the star players who will make it to Rio come August.

Fiji currently leads the standings ahead of South Africa, USA, and Argentina while New Zealand and Australia occupy the 7th and 8th positions after the first two legs in Dubai and Cape Town.

In the first tournament for 2016 we head to Wellington, New Zealand for the third leg, and then to Sydney Australia the following week, where teams will be eager to get their Olmpic campaigns underway.

Each will want to ensure they prepare the best to take home the Cup in Wellington and eventually the coveted Gold Medal in August.

The Kiwis are aiming for three Cup wins in a row as they defend their title once again on home soil this coming weekend. South Africa were able to defend their Cup on home soil winning in Cape Town, so can New Zealand do it?

The Olympics have attracted first class Rugby 15 a-side superstars such as Henry Speight and Quade Cooper for Australia, Liam Messam, Ardie Savea and the biggest name of them all Sonny Bill Williams - or formerly known as "SBW" in the side for New Zealand.

SBW is vying to do what no other rugby athlete in the world has done and that is win a gold medal to add to his Rugby World Cup champions with the All Blacks, Super 15s Rugby champion with the Chiefs, Rugby League champion with the Sydney Roosters and Canterbury, and also hold the NZ heavy weight boxing title - all in a 5 year span. That will be some achievement if he can do it.

Fiji meanwhile will be out to steal the cheers and Cup from NZ and other vying contestants as they build on their success under former England 7s coach Ben Ryan. Ryna has transformed a team of individuals into a team of champions since taking the reigns in 2014.

In a short time he has won the 7s World Series in 2014-15 and has also explored and utilised the adundance of hidden talent in the small Pacific nation. Ryan has brought an exciting way of thinking to the Fiji nation underlinging the fact that they don't need any help from any Fiji superstars playing around the world: their talent pool locally has everything one could ask for.

I spoke with Ben while in London at the recent Rugby World Cup and he went on to say that anyone wanting to gain a spot in the team for Rio will need to work extremely hard as the local boys are going to be hard to beat.

"We currently have the number one team in the world and it won't be easy for anyone trying to make the team, especially if you have been out of the 7s format for a while."

Ben went on to state that he has not been looking at anyone in particular, but that he also knows that fitness is the key to making the team. This was shown with former Fiji 7s superstar and World champion, William Ryder, who was told he was not even considered as he has very poor fitness and form in local Fiji tournaments.

The Fiji team as well as Cape Town champions, South Africa, have come out saying that no team will be intimidated with any rugby star on the field and are very comfortable, no matter who is playing and they are certainly going to try exploit weaknesses of every other team they meet.

Fiji will be the hunted team in 2016 as they have shown in recent tournaments and in the 2014 -15 series that at their absolute best they are simply unbeatable.

Most teams have failed to keep up with them at the kick offs and fast starts as they continue to blitz teams with their ferocious attacks and block bustering defence.

Osea Kolinisau will again lead the side as they embark on this year's tournaments aiming to be the first Fiji team to win a medal at the Summer Olympics. But we will especially keep our eye on Pio Tuwai who has been everyones favourite player with his SBW-style offloads and blistering runs. His match-up with SBW will be a match-up that everyone will be excited to see if they are to meet.

Fiji Coach Ben Ryan released the names of his extended squad for the Wellington and Sydney leg, and they are as follow:

1. Apisai Domolailai

2. Jasa Veremalua

3. Pio Tuwai

4. Osea Kolinisau

5. Savenaca Rawaca

6. Seremaia Tuwai

7. Emosi Mulevoro

8. Isake Katonibau

9. Mitieli Nacagilevu – Police

10. Sevuloni Mocenatabu

11. Vatemo Ravouvou