Olympic gold still a dream for Clarke
Blockbuster Blues wing Caleb Clarke has not given up on his Olympics dream and may yet make a return to the sevens scene in time for the postponed Tokyo Games.
Clarke is a man in demand after making his All Blacks breakthrough in stunning fashion through the abbreviated 2020 campaign, on the back of an outstanding season with the Blues in the inaugural edition of Super Rugby Aotearoa.
The 21-year-old has in a short time become a mainstay of Leon MacDonald’s Blues side, who entertain the Crusaders on Sunday in a top-of-the-table Super
Rugby Aotearoa clash. With his withering mix of power and pace, Clarke has become an automatic selection on the left wing, and also a fan favourite with a joyous personality that shines like a beacon.
But he’s also a heck of a sevens player, with a clear appreciation for the game, both in the part it has played in his development, and the opportunities that still exist within its framework. Right at the top of that are the Tokyo Olympics which continue to tempt Clarke like a siren’s song luring a nearby sailor.
Clarke says he has not made a decision yet, but admits he has not cast aside his Olympic ambitions just because of his success in the XVs game.
‘‘I’m just taking one step at a time,’’ Clarke told ‘‘For now it’s with the Blues, and whenever a sevens callup happens, that’s when I’ll make that decision again.
‘‘But the Olympics is a once-ina-lifetime thing for a lot of athletes, and it definitely still appeals, if I can fit it in.’’
For now Clarke’s focus is on the Blues, for whom he has made a typically industrious start in 2021. He ran for 73 metres on eight carries with two clean breaks, 5 defenders beaten and a try in the season-opening 31-16 victory over the Canes. Then he toted up 45m on 5 runs with 2 clean breaks and a try last Sunday as the Highlanders were dispatched 39-17.
He likes what the team is building, says consistency of performance is their next big step and feels like the shared mentality of delivering a style of game the whole region can be proud of is the right approach.