Rieko Ioane has crossed for 22 tries in only 24 Test matches for New Zealand, and given the All Blacks are the top-ranking country and defending champions few would bet against the 21-year-old wing being top scorer at the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.

Ioane shot to fame on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series circuit. The Blues winger made his Sevens debut in Wellington in February 2015, almost exact four years ago. The then 17-year-old flier announced himself to the rugby world by scoring six tries during the tournament, including a brace in the final in which New Zealand defeated England 27-21.

After that triumph, defeated opposition captain Tom Mitchell said of the teenager: “I didn’t realise he was only 17. He certainly didn’t look that age close up. He is the strongest 17-year-old I have ever come across. He is no doubt a talent and one to watch for the future.”

Mitchell’s verdict has been proven correct, and now the wider rugby world is well aware of Ioane’s talent. Inside New Zealand, however, many knew of the youngster’s potential even before he made his Sevens bow. That is according to All Blacks Sevens legend DJ Forbes, who retired in 2017 after a decade of captaincy.

On the eve of the HSBC New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton this weekend, the former skipper – who led his country to Commonwealth glory in 2010 and World Cup success three years later, alongside six Sevens Series titles – recalls being excited about the prospect of Ioane years ago.

“Before he was called up to the Sevens squad in 2015 we had heard about him on the local rugby grapevine,” Forbes tells Planet Rugby. “We had all seen the footage from his glory days at school. Some of the stuff he was doing as a kid was amazing.”

Having “rugby is in the blood” is not a lazy cliche for Ioane. His father, Eddie, played second-row for Samoa in the 1991 World Cup, and mother, Sandra, represented the Black Ferns. Brother Akira is a flanker 21 months Rieko’s senior and tipped to win an All Blacks cap before long. He also starred for the All Blacks Sevens.

“When both of your parents are established footy players and you have a brother who is going well then there is an assumption that there is something in the genes that is likely to produce something pretty amazing,” continues Forbes, who has witnessed the game he loves grow immeasurably in stature since he made his international debut in 2006 – largely thanks to the sponsorship and grassroots efforts of HSBC.

“To Rieko’s great credit, he has met all the great expectations many had for him. It was great to have the chance to play alongside him in his early days, see his ability at close range, and it is fantastic to see him succeeding at the highest level in rugby.”

Is Ioane the best winger on the planet right now? “Yeah, I think so,” says Forbes. “He has all the accolades. He has shown the world what he is capable of and he is delivering a high standard regularly. For a young player that is amazing.