THE NRL wants to see a formal proposal from the Australian Rugby Union before it decides whether rugby league players might be involved in Australia's quest for the sevens rugby gold medal at next year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Australian rugby sevens coach Geraint John told The Weekend Australian yesterday he was waiting until the selection criteria for the sevens program is finalised and approved by the Australian Olympic Committee before approaching the NRL about the possible release of league players to trial for the Rio Games.
An NRL spokesman said that until a formal proposal had been submitted to it by the ARU it was impossible to say what level of involvement, if any, rugby league might have in the Olympic program.
NRL players coming off contract increasingly are viewing a switch to Super Rugby as a career option but John is hoping that in an Olympic year some of them might view sevens rugby as a viable alternative, assuming the ARU is able to raise the level of a sevens contract in 2016.
"The more it's in the public eye, the more a top rugby league player might say: 'Hey, I want to give the Olympics a go'," John said.
This is all jumping the gun because no country has yet qualified for the Olympics sevens, aside from host nation, Brazil.
The easiest avenue for Australia is to finish in the top four in this year's World Series and so far John's team is on course, ranked fourth after strong showings in the Gold Coast, Dubai and Port Elizabeth tournaments.
But there are a further six tournaments to play, starting with the Wellington Sevens.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/nrl-awaits-proposal-on-possible-release-of-players-for-rio-games/story-e6frg7o6-1227202728293
Australian rugby sevens coach Geraint John told The Weekend Australian yesterday he was waiting until the selection criteria for the sevens program is finalised and approved by the Australian Olympic Committee before approaching the NRL about the possible release of league players to trial for the Rio Games.
An NRL spokesman said that until a formal proposal had been submitted to it by the ARU it was impossible to say what level of involvement, if any, rugby league might have in the Olympic program.
NRL players coming off contract increasingly are viewing a switch to Super Rugby as a career option but John is hoping that in an Olympic year some of them might view sevens rugby as a viable alternative, assuming the ARU is able to raise the level of a sevens contract in 2016.
"The more it's in the public eye, the more a top rugby league player might say: 'Hey, I want to give the Olympics a go'," John said.
This is all jumping the gun because no country has yet qualified for the Olympics sevens, aside from host nation, Brazil.
The easiest avenue for Australia is to finish in the top four in this year's World Series and so far John's team is on course, ranked fourth after strong showings in the Gold Coast, Dubai and Port Elizabeth tournaments.
But there are a further six tournaments to play, starting with the Wellington Sevens.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/nrl-awaits-proposal-on-possible-release-of-players-for-rio-games/story-e6frg7o6-1227202728293
