10 World Rugby Stars Who Would Be Amazing at Rugby Sevens

It seems as though the Road to Rio 2016 has snuck up on us all too quickly, and this year's Olympics now lie just months away, with rugby sevens set to make its competition debut in Brazil this August.

Last year, we saw the cream of the rugby crop compete for 2015 World Cup glory, but now comes the opportunity for a different code to make its mark on a global audience.

And just as attention transfers from one rugby trade to the next, we've selected a list of players who would undoubtedly flourish if they were to make the transition from the full-sided code to seven-a-side. 

Here, we're only referring to those who aren't currently or have not recently plied their trade on the sevens circuit, meaning the likes of Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand), Quade Cooper (Australia) and Virimi Vakatawa (France) aren't eligible.

Speed creeps in as a defining factor, but as you'll see in the slides to come, there's a lot more that accounts for the broad skill set of a top sevens player.

1. Christian Wade, England

Star Attribute: Speed

The bulk of our list predictably takes influence from those in the backs, and more specifically, those among the back three, the area in which Wasps winger Christian Wade reigns as one of the quickest in the sport.

One trait that opens up doors in sevens is acceleration, something Wade boasts in spades, and if you're looking to get off the mark in no time at all, he's your man.

A little like United States star Carlin Isles, however, Wade also has staying power and clocks in very sharply over long distance, ideal for those 80-metre breaks that require more than your average quick dash followed by a sudden drop.

Wade actually has experience in England's sevens team, having played in their ranks between 2009 and 2010 before emerging with Wasps, but his career could take him full circle later this year.

2. Nehe Milner-Skudder, New Zealand

Star Attribute: Sidestep

Here comes the hot stepper.

As far as flittering feet go among the world's elite, one would be hard-pressed to find a player whose pins can move quite as quickly as Hurricanes star Nehe Milner-Skudder, who's still something of a fresh face at the game's peak.

The multi-talented full-back-cum-winger danced his way to glory at last year's Rugby World Cup, and there's every chance he'd be able to exorcise some demons on a sevens pitch, too, should he be so inclined.

Compatriot Sonny Bill has already made the transfer into the sevens squad as something of a more brutish power, but Milner-Skudder would provide a much slicker candidate for the team.

The Canes star in fact has such swift feet that it's easy to forget he also possesses huge line-break potential, and his eye for spotting gaps would undoubtedly go to great use in other codes.

3. Justin Tipuric, Wales

Star Attribute: Versatility

One of only two forwards to make our list of potential sevens stars, Wales flanker Justin Tipuric pips back-row partner Sam Warburton to a place due in large part to his advantage in versatility.

Ospreys fans will often see Tipuric gliding around the midfield channels and off shoulders, partly because he's ready to go to ground and retain ball, but also because he wants to be a running option, too.

Tipuric is so adept at the breakdown, his carrying game sometimes goes underrated, and there have been calls for the flanker to fill in for Wales at centre in times gone by. Andy Howell of WalesOnline is one of those who has praised the player in a midfield capacity.

In terms of balance, Wales could do far worse than Tipuric, who will give a near ceaseless engine, a presence capable of closing down space, tackling and an eager attacking frame to boot. The only factor he could be considered lacking is outright pace.

4. Nemani Nadolo, Fiji

Star Attribute: Power

Crusaders brute Nemani Nadolo has earned comparisons with late New Zealand legend Jonah Lomu in his burgeoning professional career, and it's hardly surprising the All Black icon happened to be an avid sevens player in his day.

Nadolo would also fit well in the seven-a-side trade, with more room to manoeuvre and more time to get hands on ball—in fact, the only drawback for the Fijian would be fewer targets for him to hit.

In September last year, Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan did voice his admiration for the 28-year-old and said the nation was doing all in its power to get Nadolo on board for the Rio 2016 campaign, per NewsHub.co.nz:

"

What we're trying to hopefully work out is the opportunity for [Nadolo] to play in a tournament, maybe Wellington, or something that fits in with the Crusaders calendar. 

We take it from there, really. He's got to get into the side on form and he's got to get into the Olympic training squad and fight of some of the other challenges from some very fine rugby players.

Most people would agree with me, he's certainly someone of great interest to us because we think he has a point of difference. 

You start with his size and speed, but he's also a good footballer, intelligent, and I think he's the sort of bloke that when he puts his mind to something he achieves it.

I want to do as much as I can to allow him the opportunity to see if he can make the grade.

"

It's mentioned in the report Nadolo is "very keen" to earn a place on the flight to Brazil, and many neutrals would undoubtedly feel the same regarding the prospect of seeing him in action.

Nadolo would also bring some of that trademark Fijian handling to the trade, where carrying in one arm would even be encouraged among some parties, instead of being treated with disdain.

5. Simon Zebo, Ireland

Star Attribute: Flair

While there are far fewer players on the pitch, the way in which space is closed down in sevens means players can often feel more suffocated than in 15s, but that's where Ireland winger Simon Zebo tends to thrive.

Ireland's sevens team may not have the same reputation as some of their European peers, but if they did, Munster marvel Zebo has the kind of flair that would allow him to slip right in.

Put simply, his mind works in ways that many others don't. He sees spaces that aren't visible to some and the speed needed to exploit them, as if he's living on some other spectrum that gifts him an extra plain of vision.

If Zebo is able to evade capture and weave his way out of such scary oppositions with 15 men against him, just imagine how much running fun could be had against just seven.

6. Santiago Cordero, Argentina

Star Attribute: Speed

There are many out there who would vote to see more of Argentina winger Santiago Cordero irrespective of what sport he's playing; 15-a-side, sevens, badminton, whatever, the man is electric.

That being said, a transfer to sevens would make a lot of sense. His 5'9" frame makes him wily and hard to keep hold of, while his startling pace—he was one of the quickest players at the 2015 World Cup—would undoubtedly lead to tries galore.

During the World Cup, Cordero actually revealed he was preparing to travel with the Pumas' sevens team to Canada before finding out he'd made the tournament squad, per Rex Gowar of the Sydney Morning Herald.

It's no shock to hear the winger is so fond of sevens already, but there may be a slight concern the 22-year-old is slightly on the lightweight side for fending off some of the larger players out there.

7. Francois Louw, South Africa

Star Attribute: Stamina

Following Tipuric's lead, it's no surprise to see South African flanker Francois Louw, the other forward in our countdown, also hails from the back-row legions, those closest among the pack to their back-line brethren.

Granted, the Bath behemoth may not be as offensively dazzling as some of the sheer speedsters on this list, but a sevens team can also do with those figures that instil fear in the enemy—enter, Louw.

As important as it is to score tries in sevens, it's also an objective to not concede, and the Springbok veteran is just about as inexhaustible as they come, not to mention a brutishly tough tackler.

And that's not to suggest Louw doesn't bring an attacking presence to any team, having frequently taken on the No. 8's duties and strutted his stuff as a to-the-point carrier, too.

8. Danny Care, England

Star Attribute: Acceleration

There is reason to debate Danny Care has one of the best acceleration engines in world rugby, greater even than aforementioned team-mate Wade, Argentina ace Cordero and any other quick-starter one can think of.

Perhaps nowhere was this attribute better displayed than in his try against France during this year's Six Nations Grand Slam, where he mowed down the first 30 metres of a 45-metre score around four seconds. 

That's the kind of Point A-to-Point B sharpness one wants in a sevens team, where the potential to create a try out of the slightest sliver of space is amplified tenfold compared to its 15-a-side cousin.

9. Israel Folau, Australia

Star Attribute: Intelligence

Australian rules? Check. League? Check. Union? Check. 

One of the only oval-ball sports Israel Folau is yet to dominate is sevens, and a trip to Rio this summer may yet provide the Waratahs full-back with a late opportunity to assert his presence on that field.

The Canberra Times' Chris Dutton reported as recently as January that Folau was still "on the radar" for Australia to head to Rio, and considering his widespread success across several sports, it's no wonder why (h/t Sydney Morning Herald).

Australia team-mate Cooper is already in the mix to compete, and although Folau's selection looks all too unlikely with the Super Rugby campaign well underway, his versatility may yet go appreciated in sevens.

Overall, Folau is a superbly gifted athlete above all else. He's agile enough to dodge contact, fast enough to escape it and intelligent enough to work his way around it, meaning there's no reason he couldn't succeed there, too.

10. George North, Wales

Star Attribute: Power

George North is something Wales has never produced before, and that's a very good thing.

In decades gone by, the Dragons have brought out silkily skilful players who could dance with the best, but North is what comes out the other side if you strap ballet shoes on a cement mixer.

Nimble and thuggish in equal measure, North has a build that gives him options on the rugby pitch, where he can scythe around his foes or simply cut through them altogether.

It's not too often one will see such rampant top speed attached to a 110-kilogram frame, but North will always do his best to also look for the next pass, a talent of his that seldom goes appreciated.

If all else fails, however, North could at the very least just pick up his opponents and run the field with them in tow.