Stanaway frustrated after being ruled out of Rio

Teddy Stanaway training with the All Blacks Sevens at Blake Park last year. File photo/Andrew Warner

All Black Sevens Teddy Stanaway is frustrated after being ruled out of this year's Olympic Games.

During a warm up game against the USA in Florida the player broke his middle metacarpal in his left hand during a tackle.

"I finished the half before realising something wasn't quite right. After having a precautionary X-ray post game the medical staff told me the news.

"We gave it a few days rest before testing it out while it was heavily strapped to see if I could continue to play in the Olympics.

"But at the end of the day the medical staff had to rule me out.

"It is just one of those things that happen in rugby."

Stanaway had his last day in the village with the team on August 3, also his birthday, he said.

"They sent me off with a pretty emotional haka. The strength of it was heard all over the village and it showed me how much the boys really want this opportunity just as much as I do."

Stanaway would not be involved with the opening ceremony but he would stay in Rio to support the team until the end of the tournament.

Teddy Stanaway playing for the Bay Engineers Rugby Sevens BOP against Waikato. Photo/File

All Blacks Sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens spoke to Bay of Plenty Times about Stanaway after the final training camp held at Mount Maunganui late last month before the squad left for a pre-Olympics camp in Florida, USA.

"He is probably one of our most improved players in the squad and hence he made the 16 for Rio.

- Additional reporting by Peter White