Elbow injury ends Joe Simpson's Olympic hopes

Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson's dream of featuring in the Rio Olympics 2016 has ended after he suffered a shoulder dislocation during the training with the Great Britain sevens squad.

The 27-year-old was among the 25 players named in the preliminary squad which included 11 players from England Sevens, four from Scotland Sevens and three from Wales Sevens teams. The final squad will be trimmed down to 12 members later this month by head coach Simon Amor.

Amor confirmed the news on Simpson and wished him a speedy recovery.

"It is really disappointing for Joe.

"In the time he's been with us, he has shown exciting potential, and it is a shame he is unable to continue towards the Olympics because of this unfortunate injury. We all wish him well."

However, Simpson is expected to be available for the start of the Aviva Premiership season for Wasps.

Wasps boss Dai Young expressed his disappointment in Simpson missing the opportunity to feature for the GB Sevens in Olympics and hopes to have him in full fitness for the upcoming Premiership season.

"The feedback we have had from Simon Amor and the rest of the GB set-up was that Joe was progressing well and pushing hard for a place in the squad, and it's desperately unfortunate that he has picked up an injury that will now rule him out.

"On the flip side of that, we're all looking forward to having Joe return to Wasps.

"He is an influential character in this squad and he'll now be getting his head down to prepare himself for the start of the new season."

The Men's rugby sevens competition in the upcoming Olympics will be played with between 9th and 11th August with Great Britain sevens featuring in the same group as New Zealand, Kenya and Japan.