Three senior members of the All Blacks Sevens are the first to commit through to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
On the back of Commonwealth Games gold and World Cup victory, Scott Curry, Tim Mikkelson and Joe Webber have all re-committed to the side.
New Zealand Sevens co-captains Tim Mikkelson and Scott Curry with the world cup. Photo: @AllBlacks7s
Scott Curry and Tim Mikkelson co-captained the All Blacks Sevens throughout the 2017/18 campaign, leading the team to Commonwealth Games gold, World Cup victory and third place on the World Series.
Joe Webber's season was struck short with an arthritic infection ruling him out of the Commonwealth Games and the remaining tournaments of the season. The exciting play maker is recovering and set to return to the sevens field next season.
Coach Clarke Laidlaw said the three players will form a core base of the squad heading into the next two seasons.
"It's good news for our team to lock in three senior players as we build a squad that can qualify for the Olympics. Having that experience in our group is not only hugely important but hugely exciting as well."
The co-captaincy of Mikkelson and Curry has been a big part of the team's recent success said Laidlaw.
"Both Tim and Scott have worked incredibly well together both on and off the field. They have grown as leaders this season, and they have grown other leaders within our group and that's a big driver of the success we have had."
NZ players celebrate winning the Sevens Rugby World Cup. Photo: PhotoSport
While Webber's season was curtailed by injury, Laidlaw believes he will be a key component in the All Blacks Sevens going forward.
"He is one of the best attacking players in the world and I don't think we have seen the best of him yet. He's been unfortunate this year with his illness but his attitude in that time has been so positive; he's the heartbeat of this team," said Laidlaw.
The work now continues to build the squad going into the 2018/19 season.
"We want to keep the majority of the squad here because that experience is important in a qualification year. In saying that, we are open minded and looking forward to watching provincial, representative and schoolboy rugby over the next couple of months to see if there are players that could add value in our environment."
The All Blacks Sevens players are currently on leave, they start their season at the Oceania Sevens in November, before the first leg of the World Series in Dubai.
