Great Britain Sevens secure funding for 2021 season
Great Britain flag-bearer Lizzy Yarnold during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in South Korea. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday February 9, 2018. See PA story OLYMPICS Ceremony. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use
The Rugby Football Union, Scottish Rugby Union and Welsh Rugby Union have confirmed they have secured funding for Great Britain Sevens teams for the 2021 season ahead of the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The deal has been made possible by an innovative commercial partnership with The National Lottery.
The Men’s and Women’s GB Sevens teams will compete in the HSBC World Sevens Series in the build-up to next summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo and then will continue for the climax of the 2021 season post-Tokyo.
The partnership means the GB Sevens teams have the perfect opportunity to build towards striking gold in the delayed Olympic Games. As part of the partnership, The National Lottery will be acknowledged in a variety of ways and National Lottery players will benefit from tickets to events and unique opportunities with the GB Sevens teams.
Team leader role
Charlie Hayter will take the team leader role whilst also being an assistant coach across both men’s and women’s programmes.
Scott Forrest remains head coach for the Women’s side, having been in lead roles with Scotland Women’s Sevens since 2012.
Tony Roques will join as head coach for the men. Roques brings with him a wealth of knowledge having most recently been an assistant coach with the USA Eagles Sevens side and prior to that as assistant coach to the England Sevens team.
James Rodwell, the most capped rugby Sevens player of all time and part of the England coaching team since 2018, will complete the coaching set up, assisting across both the Men’s and Women’s programmes.
Further details on the performance-based programme will be announced in due course.
RFU performance director Conor O’Shea said: “We’re delighted to have secured this partnership with The National Lottery and thank National Lottery players. This is a great opportunity for GB Sevens and vital preparation ahead of next summer’s Olympic Games.
“We’re very grateful to the individual Unions and their partners for their co-operation, understanding and continued support. We know the current uncertain circumstances mean there will likely be challenges along the way but we’re very much looking forward to developing our plans further.”
Nigel Railton, chief executive of National Lottery operator Camelot said: “Every day The National Lottery and its players make a huge difference to communities across the UK – and have been doing so since 1994. This clever partnership demonstrates how by working together we can have a real impact on a sport and boost the chances of gold in Tokyo next summer.
“The loss of spectators and cancellation of events has had such an impact on various sports I am proud that we are able to support the GB Sevens programme after a difficult year.”
Exciting blend of skills, experience and personalities
Hayter said: “I’m delighted with the coaching team that we have in place, which has an exciting blend of skills, experience and personalities. Scott and Tony as the GB Sevens programme head coaches bring dynamism, passion and a wealth of experience to their respective roles.
“The opportunity we have to inspire Great Britain with rugby sevens on the global stage is one we all look forward to being a part of.”
The money for these initiatives is coming from a National Lottery promotional fund. It is not being funded by money allocated for National Lottery Good Causes or by Camelot.