James Rodwell unfazed by his Olympian task

England Sevens forward James Rodwell knows Team GB‘s Olympics qualification depends on his side performance this season but he does not see the added pressure as a burden.
The HSBC Sevens World Series kicks off next weekend on the Gold Coast for the first of nine tournaments around the world, culminating in London next May and the equation is simple.
As the nominated nation, if England finish at least fourth in the overall standings, Team GB will take part in the historic Rio 2016 Olympic tournament. Failing that, they will have to go through a regional tournament which is likely to involve France who recently won the European Series.
But Rodwell is adamant the focus is solely on England improving from last season where they finished fourth.
“A lot is riding on our performances this year but we’re not looking at it like a burden,” he told The Rugby Paper.
“Nothing has been settled when it comes to Team GB for the Olympics so we’re not focusing on that too much. All we want is to improve from last year and challenge for honours in the World Series.
“But saying that we also know that if we achieve that it’ll also mean Team GB will be going to the Olympics. We want to be better than last year so missing out on the Olympics qualification would be massively disappointing because it would mean we haven’t improved.
“If we put the performances in, we know that should see us being successful. We made six semi-finals last season but only one final, the question now is, ‘can we push through and make more finals?’
“Winning a tournament is a massive target for us this year. It’ll be great for this squad to lift a Cup.”
Since making his debut in Dubai in 2008, Rodwell has been an ever present force in the England Sevens squad and next week’s tournament in Australia will be his 53rd consecutive World Series appearance, a record only bettered by South Africa’s Frankie Horne with 59.
One of the best players in the air on the circuit, the 30-year-old is already one of England’s greatest Sevens players but, by the end of his current deal in 2016, he could also overtake the legendary Ben Gollings and his 70 World Series tournaments.
He said: “It’s pretty crazy to think I’m about to play my 53rd consecutive tournament. I’ve been really fortunate to stay fit for so long and any niggles I’ve had have always been during the off-season.
“I try not to think too much about it but it’s something I’ll have once I retire. I remember making my debut in Dubai in 2008. I was very young and nervous trying to learn the game. Hopefully, I’ve improved since then.
“In Sevens you’ve all got to be playing well to perform as a team. If one cog of the wheel doesn’t work properly it’s hard for the team to succeed. It’s all about being consistent in our performances.
“I never get the glory Dan Norton gets when he scores with his lightning pace but I often remind him he wouldn’t be scoring if it wasn’t for me!”
NICK VERDIER