The New Zealand men's rowing eight have booked their ticket to Tokyo after qualifying for the upcoming Olympic Games at the Regatta of Death in Lucerne.

New Zealand's crew won the preliminary men's eight race against Romania, China, and Italy, and needed to finish in the top two of last night's final to secure Olympic selection.

Originally scheduled to be held last Monday (NZT), the final was brought forward after bad weather was forecasted in Lucerne.

One of the crew's rowers Phillip Wilson told Adam Cooper on the All Sports Breakfast it was an odd experience with racing brought forward due to bad weather, as well as Covid-related measures.

"It all made sense, the weather forecast wasn't great, it would have been pretty unfair racing. We shifted the mindset and got in the right frame of mind," he says.

"Our reserves and our coaches were saying 'you're racing tomorrow you're racing tomorrow', and so that was like 'oh wow, okay'."

The eight will return home to MIQ, and potentially rowing on ergs in their hotel rooms.

Their qualification means nine New Zealand crews will be contesting at the Olympic Games.

Men's eight crew:

Tom Murray, Blenheim Rowing Club (bow)
Hamish Bond, North End Rowing Club
Shaun Kirkham, Waikato Rowing Club
Michael Brake, North Shore Rowing Club
Dan Williamson, Auckland Rowing Club
Phillip Wilson, Petone Rowing Club
Tom Mackintosh, Avon Rowing Club
Matt MacDonald, North Shore Rowing Club (stroke)
Sam Bosworth, Avon Rowing Club (cox)