Great Britain confirm Olympic Sevens coaching staff

David Skippers
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Rugby 7s player James Rodwell during the Team GB Kitting Out session at the NEC, Birmingham. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday July 13, 2016. Photo credit should read: Tim Goode/PA Wire

Great Britain (GB) Sevens have confirmed the wider coaching structure for their Men’s and Women’s teams for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

James Rodwell will assist Simon Amor in the Men’s programme while Charlie Hayter will work alongside Women’s head coach Scott Forrest.

Rodwell, the most capped rugby Sevens player of all time, was a pivotal member of the Team GB squad for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where Rugby Sevens made its Olympic debut, helping his side take home the silver medal.

After taking on a player-coach role, he retired from professional rugby at the end of the 2018/19 season and now works across England’s Men’s and Women’s Sevens programmes in a coaching capacity.

Hayter, meanwhile, has represented England and GB sevens over the last five years and was appointed head coach of England Women’s Sevens this summer.

Rodwell said: “Being involved in Rio 2016 as a player was a real honour and privilege and something I’ll never forget. To have the opportunity to go to another Olympic Games, this time as a coach, is something I’m really looking forward to.”

Hayter said: “I am looking forward to working with Scott and to have the opportunity to work with a squad at an Olympic Games in a coaching capacity is something very exciting indeed.”

Amor added: “To become Olympic sevens champions, the importance of set pieces is well-known and in particular kick-offs.

“Therefore, I am delighted that James Rodwell, who is one of the world’s best in the kick-off area of the game, will be assisting the Men’s GB Sevens team in Tokyo.

“From retiring last year as the world’s most experienced Sevens player, his progression as a coach has been excellent and I am excited to see how he will help develop GB players this season.

“Charlie Hayter has only very recently made that transition from player into coaching, heading up the England Women’s programme. It’s an amazing opportunity for him to assist with GB Women’s preparation for the Olympics as a young coach in what is the start of what I’m sure will be a long coaching career.

“The England Sevens programme is really proud of the development of these two young coaches and we’re delighted they have the opportunity of working on the Olympic stage.”

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