New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams returns from injury to boost Olympics bid

Sonny Bill Williams is "fighting fit" after a knee injury, as the New Zealand star looks to press his bid to play at this summer's Olympics.

World Cup-winner Williams has missed the last two Rugby Sevens World Series tournaments, but has returned to training and according to captain Tim Mikkelson, is set to return at this week's Hong Kong Sevens.

"He's fighting fit. He was disappointed to miss the last ones through a bit of injury and he's ready to go," added Mikkelson in Hong Kong.

Williams suffered a swollen knee before the Las Vegas Sevens in early March, with unconfirmed reports in New Zealand saying the problem was exacerbated by an economy-class long-haul flight to the United States.

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Coach Gordon Tietjens was non-committal about that theory but he added that Williams had been training hard before the problem flared.

"I really can't answer that. He'd just basically come off a pretty hard training week and it flared up so that's really what it was," said Tietjens,

"Sonny Bill Williams is fine. He loves the sport. He's a great athlete, he commits himself really well, he's got such a professional work ethic."

According to reports in France, Williams could be set for a return to Toulon, where he began his rugby union career in 2008, after switching from rugby league.

French newspaper L'Equipe has suggested that he could be close to agreeing a short-term deal to play in France following the Rio games, should he make the team.

But for now, Williams, who has played in 33 Tests for the All Blacks, will be focused on securing his Olympics place, and he is by no means guaranteed a spot in the team.

"You just cannot make the transition in a short space of time," added Tietjens. "You've got to play world series tournaments.

"The game's evolved since the last time a lot of them would have played it. Even Sonny Bill Williams said the other day, this game's a different beast altogether. The conditioning levels are huge.

"He's a great example for all the other younger players that are coming into the sevens environment and that's what's really special about him: he just sets high standards. It's great for the environment."

New Zealand, who won last month's inaugural Vancouver Sevens, are hoping for another strong showing in Hong Kong, the highlight of the world series and regarded as a dress rehearsal for the Olympic Sevens in August.

After Hong Kong, the world series heads to Singapore, Paris and London before rugby makes its return to the Olympic Games in Rio after a 92-year absence.

"I've got players that are hungry to be an Olympian," Tietjens said.

"They all want to go to Rio, and every time they go out and they play in that black jersey, it's a performance they want to remember as about what puts them in that team to go to Rio.

"So that's why it's (Hong Kong) really important. We can't afford not to play well and the players can't afford not to play well."