Great Britain’s men’s rugby sevens team make their Olympic debut when they face Kenya and Japan this afternoon.
The team features a number of south west London stars, including the captain Tom Mitchell of Wandsworth who won silver at the Moscow Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013
Mitchell, 27, then topped the scoring charts in the 2013/14 World Series scoring 358 points — 98 ahead of his nearest challenger— and will be central to Team GB’s progress in the competition.
Another seasoned operator is Putney’s Dan Bibby, 25, who recently got engaged and said his summer will be topped off by winning Olympic gold.
Also central to Great Britain’s ambitions will be the out and out pace of Ollie Lindsay Hague and Marcus Watson.
Harlequins’ Lindsay-Hague, 25, scored two tries in the 2016 Exeter Sevens cup final as Great Britain recovered from a 12-0 deficit to defeat France 33-17.
Newcastle Falcons full-back Watson made the squad after starring in the Aviva Premiership last season, scoring five tries – including a double against the reigning champions Saracens.
Watson, 25, who lives in Walton-on-Thames, first got involved in the game at Effingham and Leatherhead Rugby Club and played in the intentional youth ranks while at St George’s College in Weybridge.
Team GB have received a tough draw with the highly rated Japan and New Zealand completing pool C, and will need to hit the ground running against dark horses Kenya if they are to qualify from the group.
They will need to watch out for Kenyan danger-man Collins Injera, 29, who has scored the most tries in sevens history with an astonishing 235.
The clash with Kenya will be the first match of three packed days of competition as rugby sevens makes its Olympic debut – although 15-a-side did play in the 1924 Paris Olympics.
GB will face Kenya at 4pm and Japan at 9pm on Tuesday, August 9.
