The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is working in collaboration with Australian Rugby Union to apply the latest science and technology to help test and build the ultimate Rugby Sevens players for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and beyond.

Members of the Qantas men’s Rugby Sevens team, who are also part of the men’s AIS Rugby program, were put though a range of intensive skill and fitness tests at a national camp in September run by AIS sport scientists. The tests were conducted to help identify and develop Australia’s best Rugby Sevens talent for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Since entering its first official four-year Olympic cycle, ARU, in partnership with the AIS, is preparing for the debut of men’s and women’s Rugby Sevens at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The national camp was the focus of ARU’s new video series: ‘How to build a Sevens player.’

In this video series, 19-year old Australian Rugby Sevens player Allan Fa’alava’au talks about how the AIS has supported his training, development and transition to representing Australia at the elite level.

The Rugby program is looking for a combination of athletic ability, skills and mental toughness to succeed at the Olympic level.

The national camp is supported by a range of AIS sports sciences including nutrition, physiology and skills acquisition.

The AIS program supports the development of talented Australian Rugby Sevens athletes by providing access to specialist coaching and sports science expertise and world-class training facilities.