Howlett ruled out of the Games

All Black speedster Doug Howlett has been ruled out of representing New Zealand at Sevens in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Doug Howlett: Out of the Commonwealth Games

Howlett picked up a hamstring tear - revealed by an MRI scan on Monday - during his team's defeat to the Crusaders at the weekend.

“It’s estimated that he wouldn’t be able to train fully for a period of seven to 10 days," said coach Gordon Tietjens.

"Given the short turnaround to our first game, we had to make a decision.

"It is disappointing for Doug and the team because he was really excited about going to the Games and playing for New Zealand."

Howlett will be replaced by Amasio Valence who passed a fitness test on Sunday.

“Amasio has come through our training sessions extremely well considering he had been hampered by a knee injury,” Tietjens said.

“He was part of the wider squad and was aware that if his fitness test results were good and he did well at training, he would be considered for selection in the event of an injury and that’s what’s happened."