Rikki's Games glory 'I'M LIVING MY SPORTING DREAM'

Why the TV commentator is in Sevens heaven at Birmingham

-  Rebekah Hebenton

Rikki Swannell is one of the country's most respected sports broadcasters, with R one of the most recognisable voices in the commentator box. And while she's been working in the public eye for the past 15 years, she admits waiting for the release of her new book, Seven Sisters, takes the cake for nerve-wracking experiences.

"It's undoubtedly the most challenging thing I've done," tells Rikki. "There's a special kind of anxiety that comes with putting some work like this out into the world. Give me live television any day!"

Seven Sisters tells the story of how the Black Ferns Rugby Sevens team transformed their game and team culture after their loss at the 2016 Olympic Games final and became the most dominant force on the field over the next five years.

Rikki, 41, has travelled the world with the team, commentating on the World Sevens series, and as an Olympics reporter, she was on the ground when they finally got their hands on the gold medal in Tokyo.

The idea for the book was born before the players had even left the field and once they returned to New Zealand, she spent the following months talking with the team and support staff. Because of the special bond, Rikki built with the group, she says she felt a lot of pressure to get the story right.