Sevens: Rio dream drives Curry on

Scott Curry has a new contract with New Zealand Rugby making him available to play sevens through to the end of 2018. Photo / Andrew Warner

Injured All Blacks Sevens player Scott Curry is still focused on making the New Zealand side that will take to the field when the Rio Olympics roll around in August.

Named All Blacks Sevens captain last year, Reporoa-raised Curry went under the knife in December after dislocating and damaging ligaments in his shoulder during the HSBC Sevens World Series opener in Dubai at the start of that month.

Yesterday he was at Blake Park with his teammates, who are preparing for the next two rounds in the series in Hong Kong and Singapore, when the announcement was made that he had re-signed with New Zealand Rugby, making him available to play sevens through to the end of 2018.

He expects to be back playing in time for June's All Blacks Olympic Sevens squad trials.

"Rio's not 'til August, so that will give me a couple of months to get fully right," he said. "It's the dream of any athlete to compete at the highest level of sport so I'm working really hard to be in the best possible shape to be selected for Rio."

Curry said the Olympic Games was a key factor in his decision to re-sign.

"It's definitely a big draw card having things like that, with Rio this year and then Japan in four years' time as another thing that's on the horizon. There's the Commonwealth Games every two years in between as well, so it's a pretty cool time to be involved in sevens and getting to go to those sort of events and be part of a bigger New Zealand team," he said.

"[Recovery] seems to be taking a bit of time and I've got to be pretty strict around rehab and not push it too soon because Rio's a bigger goal."

Curry, 27, has been a regular in the All Blacks Sevens since making his debut in Dubai in 2010 and will now be available for two further seasons of the World Series and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.

"It's always a huge honour being involved with the All Blacks Sevens and I'm grateful for the chances I've been given."

Curry's impressive power and strength on attack and defence has made him a favourite of coach Gordon Tietjens in recent seasons. He enjoyed a stellar 2013/2014 season which saw him named in the World Rugby Sevens Dream Team. He followed that up with stand-out form in 2015 and was named the Richard Crawshaw Memorial All Blacks Sevens Player of the Year at the Steinlager Rugby Awards.

Looking back Curry said 2013/14 was one season he recalled fondly.

"It was a huge season for the team. We won the World Series after winning the last two tournaments in Edinburgh and London. And following that up by being part of the New Zealand Sevens team at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh was special too."

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said Curry's decision was great news as retaining skilled campaigners was vital for the ongoing success of sevens.