Post by Phil on May 15, 2019 8:42:00 GMT
The most capped rugby sevens player of all time James Rodwell is retiring from professional rugby at the end of the 2018/19 season.
Rodwell broke the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series appearance record in January by playing his 90th tournament in Hamilton. He became England Sevens’ most capped player when celebrating his 71st appearance at the Cape Town Sevens in December 2016 where his team defeated South Africa in the Cup final to win gold.
At the 2014 Hong Kong Sevens where England played in the Cup final Rodwell had reached 50 consecutive World Series appearances. He went on to set the record number of consecutive appearances of 69 two years later at the 2016 Singapore Sevens.
Rodwell was a pivotal member of the Team GB squad for the Rio 2016 Olympics where rugby sevens made its Olympic debut, scoring two tries in the tournament and helping his side take home a silver medal.
As well as featuring in the Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Rodwell helped England to bronze medal success at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018.
After making his first Rugby World Cup Sevens appearance for England in Dubai in 2009, Rodwell also represented his country at the Moscow Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013 where England were defeated by New Zealand in the final. Last year he played in his last World Cup tournament in San Francisco where England won silver.
“It’s been an amazing journey from when I first started playing sevens – I would never have imagined that I’d pull on an England jersey this many times," said Rodwell. "The pleasure that I still get from representing my country is incredible and it’s still a huge honour to wear the England shirt.
“The game of sevens has grown so much in the 12 years that I have been involved. It began with part-time players coming together for tournaments and now has players on fully-professional contracts and is about to feature in the Olympics for the second time – I’m very proud to have been a part of that.
“As well as my family there are lot of people that I have to thank for my career over the years – going all the way back to my school, university and Moseley coaches who believed in me before the likes of Ben Ryan, Russell Earnshaw and Simon Amor who have all given me so much support within the England Sevens programme. The level of detail that Simon Amor puts into getting players into the right place both physically and mentally has played such a huge part in me being able to have played for such a long time.
“The real memories come from all the players that I have been fortunate enough to play with and against throughout my career and I have forged some friendships that will last a lifetime. There is no better feeling than running out onto the pitch with some of your closest friends to some of the most passionate fans in rugby from all around the world.”
Head of England Sevens Simon Amor added: “I have been so fortunate to have worked with Rodders for almost six years and it has been a real pleasure to coach someone who’s not only so detailed in his thinking and so knowledgeable about the game, but who has continually strived to be truly the best player he can be.
“He is an incredibly committed and passionate player who has always put the game of sevens at the very heart of his thinking at all times, but more than that, he is an outstanding person.
"His growth mindset and desire to continually give his absolute best has been inspiring and over the last few years he has also been a fantastic role model for our young academy players.
“It is difficult to overstate the impact he has had in the England Sevens programme. Unfortunately, retirement comes to everyone in the end – but reaching 91 tournaments is testament to the exceptional athlete he is.”
Rodwell’s rugby career started at the age of seven at Tring RFC and at Berkahamsted Collegiate School from the age of ten. He went on to play for the U19s at Moseley Rugby Club where he played for the Midlands before going on to be selected for Birmingham University’s first team.
His England Sevens debut came in 2008 when he ran out against the United States at the Dubai Sevens. He was later offered a professional contract with England in 2010 ahead of the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Rodwell broke the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series appearance record in January by playing his 90th tournament in Hamilton. He became England Sevens’ most capped player when celebrating his 71st appearance at the Cape Town Sevens in December 2016 where his team defeated South Africa in the Cup final to win gold.
At the 2014 Hong Kong Sevens where England played in the Cup final Rodwell had reached 50 consecutive World Series appearances. He went on to set the record number of consecutive appearances of 69 two years later at the 2016 Singapore Sevens.
Rodwell was a pivotal member of the Team GB squad for the Rio 2016 Olympics where rugby sevens made its Olympic debut, scoring two tries in the tournament and helping his side take home a silver medal.
As well as featuring in the Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Rodwell helped England to bronze medal success at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018.
After making his first Rugby World Cup Sevens appearance for England in Dubai in 2009, Rodwell also represented his country at the Moscow Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013 where England were defeated by New Zealand in the final. Last year he played in his last World Cup tournament in San Francisco where England won silver.
“It’s been an amazing journey from when I first started playing sevens – I would never have imagined that I’d pull on an England jersey this many times," said Rodwell. "The pleasure that I still get from representing my country is incredible and it’s still a huge honour to wear the England shirt.
“The game of sevens has grown so much in the 12 years that I have been involved. It began with part-time players coming together for tournaments and now has players on fully-professional contracts and is about to feature in the Olympics for the second time – I’m very proud to have been a part of that.
“As well as my family there are lot of people that I have to thank for my career over the years – going all the way back to my school, university and Moseley coaches who believed in me before the likes of Ben Ryan, Russell Earnshaw and Simon Amor who have all given me so much support within the England Sevens programme. The level of detail that Simon Amor puts into getting players into the right place both physically and mentally has played such a huge part in me being able to have played for such a long time.
“The real memories come from all the players that I have been fortunate enough to play with and against throughout my career and I have forged some friendships that will last a lifetime. There is no better feeling than running out onto the pitch with some of your closest friends to some of the most passionate fans in rugby from all around the world.”
Head of England Sevens Simon Amor added: “I have been so fortunate to have worked with Rodders for almost six years and it has been a real pleasure to coach someone who’s not only so detailed in his thinking and so knowledgeable about the game, but who has continually strived to be truly the best player he can be.
“He is an incredibly committed and passionate player who has always put the game of sevens at the very heart of his thinking at all times, but more than that, he is an outstanding person.
"His growth mindset and desire to continually give his absolute best has been inspiring and over the last few years he has also been a fantastic role model for our young academy players.
“It is difficult to overstate the impact he has had in the England Sevens programme. Unfortunately, retirement comes to everyone in the end – but reaching 91 tournaments is testament to the exceptional athlete he is.”
Rodwell’s rugby career started at the age of seven at Tring RFC and at Berkahamsted Collegiate School from the age of ten. He went on to play for the U19s at Moseley Rugby Club where he played for the Midlands before going on to be selected for Birmingham University’s first team.
His England Sevens debut came in 2008 when he ran out against the United States at the Dubai Sevens. He was later offered a professional contract with England in 2010 ahead of the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
