Sevens: 'Hard yards' for Kaka

Gillies Kaka completes a training drill in the countdown to this weekend's Wellington Sevens. Photo / Darren Taumata

It's fairytale-type stuff but Hawke's Bay's All Black Sevens pivot Gillies Kaka can appreciate the possibility.

That's the possibility of both he and partner Shiray Tane, who is a member of the 22-strong New Zealand Women's Sevens contracted squad, collecting gold medals at the Rio Olympics in August.

"It would be awesome ... unbelievable. That's why I have to do the hard yards now," Kaka said on the eve of this weekend's Wellington-hosted third round of the IRB World Series.

"It's good to have someone in your life with the same goals. In fact it's quite unique to have partners at this level doing the same kind of work. We both know what each other is going through."

For Havelock North's Kaka, 25, this weekend's tournament at the Cake Tin will be the venue for his return from an ankle injury which ruled him out of the second round in South Africa. It was collected in the Dubai-hosted first round, one of several which hit the team.

"I ruptured a ligament but the rehab has gone to plan and I'm running at 100 per cent again," Kaka explained.

The product of New Plymouth Boys' High School and Palmerston North Boys' High School agreed he couldn't have timed his return better.

Wellington is where he made his series debut in 2013 and he played prominent roles in the title successes there last year and in 2014 and in the semifinal finish the previous year.

"It's always pretty cool to play here in front of family and friends. We're going for our third series win in a row here and all going to plan we will have our first title of the current series," Kaka said referring to the fact Fiji won the Dubai round and South Africa the Cape Town round last month.

The former Magpie pointed out all the teams on the circuit have improved since last year.

"You can't take any team lightly. Our first game is against Russia. Hopefully we can get a win against them and build throughout the tournament ... taking one game at a time is the priority."

Hawke's Bay's sole All Black Sevens rep in recent seasons, Kaka, said it was pleasing to see Magpie Billy Ropiha make the squad of 22 from which Sir Gordon Tietjens selected his 12 players for this weekend's tournament from.

"Billy learnt a lot and did all he could to push his case for further selections. He was stoked to be here and Billy is the team clown already."

Another of the newcomers and the only one to make the final cut is two-time world champion at 15s, a one-time Super Rugby champion with the Chiefs and a two-time NRL Premiership winner, Sonny Bill Williams.

"Sonny has got used to the culture and the work ethic associated with this team. He is fitting in really well ... Sonny just wants to work hard and win a title with another team," Kaka said.

While a gold medal at Rio remains the big carrot for Kaka, SBW and co, Kaka stressed the importance of not looking too far ahead.

"We just have to take each tournament as it comes because you never know what part injuries are to play as I found out in Dubai. It's important you stay fit and play well."

Tournament details:

Tomorrow's All Black Sevens matches

* 2.04pm: v Russia.
* 5.06pm: v Scotland.
* 8.30pm: v South Africa.

Other pools:

B: Argentina, Fiji, Wales, Japan.
C: France, United States, England, Samoa.
D: Kenya, Australia, Canada, Portugal