More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
World Cup winner Will Greenwood has called on Chatham’s Dan Caprice to forget about off-field troubles at the Commonwealth Games if England’s Sevens squad are to land gold in Delhi.
World record Sevens points scorer Ben Gollings, the only survivor in the squad from four years previous, will lead England out for their opening clash on October 11 as they look to upgrade the silver medal won in Melbourne in 2006.
Poor living conditions in the athlete’s village, a collapsed bridge near the main stadium where the rugby will be played, coupled with the threat of terrorism in India, has led to some nations questioning their participation.
But Greenwood is convinced with former Chatham Grammar School pupil Caprice on board England possess the correct ammunition to challenge New Zealand, who have won the three gold medals since the sport was introduced at the Commonwealth Games in 1998.
“There has been talk concerning security and hygiene issues and that is a shame but it shouldn’t stop Dan from going out there and doing his best,” said Greenwood, who is helping to launch the MasterCard Be Number 23 competition.
“He just needs to try and block it all from his mind and concentrate on the rugby. It is going to be difficult because when you travel abroad you want to be treated like an elite sports team which our boys are.
“If you aren’t then it can unsettle you but I don’t think our boys will get too caught up in it and I fully expect them to put on a good show.
“They will all be keen to add something to their CV and in the Sevens game a Commonwealth Games medal is right up there so hopefully it all goes off without a hitch and our boys do what they can.”
Gollings alongside Caprice will lead an England squad of Sevens specialists in Delhi, who have been training since July for the Games and the IRB Sevens World Series that kicks off in Dubai in December.
Seven of the 12 man squad named by head coach Ben Ryan beat the Kiwis to clinch the Emirates Airlines London Sevens title in 2009, and won in New Zealand at the Wellington Sevens earlier that year.
And Greenwood is convinced if former Medway RFC and Maidstone RFC utility back Caprice can inspire an England success story in Delhi it will be the perfect platform to Sevens taking off in the UK.
“Sevens is becoming a more specialised game now and with it being in the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics it is going to continue its rise up and up,” added Greenwood.
“In my playing days players did a bit of both Sevens and the XV code of the game but now you are one or the other and that has helped the game grow.
“Players can now earn their own Sevens contracts and it is great because it has risen their abilities and the game as a whole.
“And with it being included in the 2016 Olympics it is a really exciting game and it is only going to get stronger and stronger.”
