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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Sonny Bill Williams dedicated a season to prepare for Rio. When the Olympic rugby sevens competition finally kicked off, he spent about eight minutes on the field.Now hell be sidelined for up to nine months with an injured Achilles tendon, ruling him out for the All Blacks in 2016.The highest-profile player in rugbys return to the Olympics after 92 years carried the ball into a tackle early in the second half of New Zealands 14-12 upset loss to Japan on Tuesday, then stayed on the ground holding his left ankle before being helped from the field.A despondent Williams was taken to a hospital and medical tests showed a partially ruptured Achilles tendon, which is expected to keep him on the sidelines for up to nine months.Hes obviously shattered and disappointed, New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said.Not long after Williams exit, his teammates left the Deodoro Stadium with their heads down, having lost to Japan for the first time in rugby sevens.A two-time Rugby World Cup winner with the All Blacks in 15s, Williams had little impact on the Olympics. His sister, Niall Williams, picked up a silver medal as part of the New Zealand team which lost the womens gold-medal match to Australia the previous night.Devastating for Sonny, to lose him so early in the tournament, New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens said, added that the shoulder injury to Joe Webber was also a major setback. Both influential players as well, got some outstanding qualities that I needed.The New Zealanders rallied to beat Kenya 28-5, but now face unbeaten Britain on Wednesday in the last Pool C game.Weve just got to get on with it, Tietjens said. The guys bounced back with a lot of character against Kenya.But theyll have to do with one man down in the squad, with only one replacement allowed. Sione Molia was called in to replace Williams.Tietjens said Japan showed against his team and in the narrow 21-19 loss to Britain that the competition was intense for the medals.Theyre a good team. They pushed Britain very closely as well -- perhaps that says it all, he said. There are no given games these days.I knew with Kenya and Britain, there was a chance we werent even going to look at the quarterfinals, so weve got a chance tomorrow to get in there.The New Zealanders were hoping to have Williams back around the team in some way during the Olympics.Hes a great professional. Very infectious. Hes certainly helps the younger players. Hes got a great work ethic, Tietjens said. For that (injury) to happen in the first game of the tournament is devastating.Weve struck an horrendous amount of injuries this year in the world series as well but theres a lot of character in this team, I can assure you.New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive told Newstalk ZB Radio that Williams would be out of action for six to nine months and selectors would have to find a replacement for the All Blacks squad to play in the Rugby Championship. Custom Willie Wilson Jersey . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. 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Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Kevin Harvick wasnt worried about his poor qualifying at Bristol Motor Speedway. In fact, starting 24th gave Harvick exactly what he wanted to win at Bristol Motor Speedway.It kind of motivates me, Harvick said Sunday. I think its exciting. I like to pass cars.Harvick made the biggest pass with 70 laps to go, sweeping by Denny Hamlin and holding on to take the rain-delayed race at the half-mile concrete track.The victory was Harvicks second of the season and second at Bristol -- his first in 11 years. It also moved him atop the Sprint Cup standings and gave his program a jolt with only three races left until NASCARs Chase starts.Harvick had 13 top-10 finishes in the 18 races since winning at Phoenix in March.Its been one of those deals where things have just not gone exactly right, said Harvick, who led 128 laps. But to have the win now and just try to get that momentum before we get into the Chase and get things rolling is really what we needed.Fittingly for a race halted because of Saturday night storms, Harvick had to sit out one last rain delay before easily pulling away on the restart and cruising to victory.Thank you, thank you, thank you, Harvick said over the radio as he crossed the line.Harvick enticed his car owner -- and retiring driver -- Tony Stewart to do burnouts with him to celebrate the three-time champions last race at Bristol. He wanted Stewart to share the victory lap, but Tony and I arent very good at sign language from one seat to another, he said.Ricky Stenhouse Jr.dddddddddddd?was second, followed by Hamlin, Austin Dillon and Chris Buescher.Kyle Busch, who led 256 laps, clearly had the strongest car, leading a race-high 256 laps. But he spun on Lap 358 when a part broke and Justin Allgaier, driving in relief of?Michael Annett, hit the No. 18 car flush to end the defending series champs race.Busch was angered by his equipment failure and said the race shop was going to hear about it Tuesday. He also blasted Allgaier and his spotter, saying they shouldve seen Buschs spin and moved clear instead of hitting him. I dont know. Frustrating day. Lets go home, Busch said.Allgaier apologized to Busch. That is the worst possible scenario when the leader spins out and you hit them, Allgaier said.That was the sentiment of many at Bristol. The end was a welcome relief for race teams, track officials and those who came back out after last nights soaking rains.It was the second time in three races that rain impacted a Sprint Cup race -- Poconos Sunday race ended on a Monday three weeks ago -- and only a fraction of the 160,000 in the stands Saturday night returned for the conclusion.The finish also meant Bristol could begin the massive conversion of its race track to a football field for No. 9 Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech, an event that track general manager Jerry Caldwell expects will draw in excess of 155,000 fans on Sept. 10. ' ' '