How Marcus Smith made everything easier for former World Player of the Year and the ‘challenge’ of swapping sevens for 15s
How Marcus Smith made everything easier for former World Player of the Year and the 'challenge' of swapping sevens for 15s
Argentina star Rodrigo Isgró has revealed the biggest challenge he faced when switching from sevens to 15s rugby, explaining why his fitness did not suit the full-sized game as many might expect.
The 2023 World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year also opened up on adapting to life at Harlequins, revealing how England fly-half Marcus Smith helped him settle in when he first arrived in the country.
Isgró established himself as a leading player on the sevens circuit before transitioning to the 15-a-side game. But while his experience in the shorter format provided an excellent foundation, the Argentine winger quickly discovered that his sevens conditioning did not automatically translate to the demands of Test and club rugby.
“I started to play 15s in 2023 after a sevens series season,” he told Planet Rugby at a recent Harlequins media event.
“I did my debut with the Pumas in the Rugby Championship, and then I was selected for the World Cup, which was really good for me. I was really happy.
“I played one game in the World Cup, and then I went back to play sevens again in 2024 because I did all the process to play in the Olympics, which I wanted to play.”
Isgró’s international career therefore took an unusual route, having featured at the 2023 Rugby World Cup before returning to sevens to pursue his Olympic ambitions.
He initially travelled to the Paris 2024 Olympics as a reserve, with a suspension carried over from the SVNS World Series which prevented him from featuring in Argentina’s group stage matches. However, he returned to the active squad for the quarter-final against hosts France, but was beaten by the eventual gold medalists.
His Olympic campaign marked another milestone in his sevens career, before he turned his attention to establishing himself in England.
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The biggest challenge of switching to 15s
“Sevens helped me a lot,” he admitted.
“My time playing sevens was really long. I played five seasons. It was unbelievable. The group, the atmosphere in sevens, and also on the field, I think I improved my game a lot.”
Despite those benefits, Isgró found adapting his fitness to the longer format was one of the biggest obstacles during his first season at Harlequins.
“It was a big transition because the first season here, or my first year in 15s, it was difficult. My fitness, it wasn’t the best,” he explained.
“You play just 14 minutes or four or five games in one weekend [in sevens], and then you have to play 80 minutes [in 15s].
“So I think the fitness was the most difficult thing for me because everyone thinks that if you play sevens, you are really good in fitness, but it’s really different. The game is different. The moments or the times in the field are different.”
The adjustment wasn’t simply about building the stamina required to last a full match, but was also about developing a greater understanding of wing play in the 15-a-side game, as opposed to the “one v one” defence he was used to in sevens.
“It was a big challenge,” he admitted. “The winger’s IQ in defence is really important. So, I had to learn a lot about this.”
How Marcus Smith helped Isgró settle at Harlequins
His move to England presented its own challenges, including adapting to a new club environment and overcoming a language barrier. But neither proved too taxing for the Argentine.
Sitting in the stands at the Stoop on the coldest day of the year so far, Isgró appeared settled in his surroundings. Teammate James Lang stopped to greet him with a friendly squeeze on the shoulders, offering a small glimpse of the relationships he has built within the squad.
“When I arrived here, I think Marcus [Smith] helped me a lot at Harlequins,” he revealed.
“He made me feel really welcome when I arrived, and he spent time with me when I couldn’t speak any English. So he was really kind with me.”
Smith’s support helped Isgró feel comfortable away from the pitch, an important factor as he adapted to a new environment while learning the intricacies of his position in the 15-a-side game.
Isgró’s Argentina ambitions
Isgró spoke with a beaming smile as we brought the interview to a close. Off camera, we chatted about his international prospects ahead of the Nations Championship. His excitement for a fully fit Argentine backline was infectious, as the prospect of Mateo Carreras, Juan Cruz Mallía and Bautista Delguy all being fit visibly thrilled the talented winger.
Santi Carreras has sadly been ruled out with a knee injury since this interview, but with such depth in Argentina’s backline, Isgró knows that a place in Felipe Contepomi’s side will not come easily. But after establishing himself in sevens and embracing the challenge of adapting to 15s, the winger has another opportunity to prove his value on the international stage.
Big Game 18 brings a day of live entertainment and family-friendly activities as the ultimate post-Christmas celebration as Harlequins Women take on Loughborough Lightning before Harlequins Men face Northampton Saints at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Monday 28th December. Get your tickets via the Harlequins website.
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