Rugby: Savea weighing sevens options

Julian Savea is debating the opportunity to represent New Zealand in next year's Olympic Sevens. Photo / Getty Images

All Black wing Julian Savea has committed his playing future to New Zealand and needs to decide shortly if that includes making himself available for next year's Olympic sevens campaign.

The try-scoring dynamo is a man in demand and before the ink was dry on his new contract with New Zealand Rugby - a deal that will keep him on these shores until after the 2019 World Cup - the sevens questions arose.

National sevens coach Gordon Tietjens would love to have the man who has scored 30 tries in 33 test matches given his pace and power would be more than handy in the sevens domain.

"I've always loved sevens. I've played sevens growing up as a kid," Savea said. "So, to me, it wouldn't be hard to transition to sevens. I know how the game works."

The 24-year-old needs to decide whether he wants to commit to the sevens programme, which would force him to miss Super Rugby matches next year and a collection of tests.

"I've got a lot of decisions to make and I'm really hoping it's over the next two or three weeks," Savea said.

Tietjens and Savea spoke recently and the long-time New Zealand coach mapped out his plan to win gold at Rio.

"He's pretty interested in me being available, so I'm very clear on what they want from me," the Hurricanes flyer said.

The parameters around which players will be required for what lengths of time - and international sevens tournaments - have been agreed on by all parties but are yet to be announced. It's understood that New Zealand Rugby have given certain All Blacks until next month to decide if they want to make themselves available.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said the ball was in Savea's court.

"That's a decision for Julian to make. We are still working our way through that."

Savea could be one of three Hurricanes involved in the Rio campaign, including first-five Beauden Barrett and versatile loose forward Victor Vito.

Losing such talent could be damaging for the Hurricanes in 2016 but coach Chris Boyd said they would manage any potential departures.

"It's been crystal clear for us to know exactly what the criteria is and I'm comfortable and relaxed about it," Boyd said. "If any of our guys - and I'm assuming there will be, it hasn't been yet announced - but if any of them play [sevens], they'll play some part in the Hurricanes next year, for sure."

Meanwhile, Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick also confirmed a four-year pact with New Zealand Rugby today and Tew said signing both Retallick and Savea at the same time was on a similar level to when All Black greats Dan Carter and Richie McCaw agreed to long-term contracts in 2011.

Tew said the contracting process was an ongoing beast but the retention of Retallick and Savea - potential pillars of the All Blacks for years to come - should help keep other players in New Zealand, based on past form.

"When we've retained a couple of key players for the future, it's helped other guys make good decisions."