England stalwart Tom Mitchell set for Rugby Sevens comeback in Los Angeles
BySportsbeat
Published 20/03/2024 at 15:52 GMT
Former England skipper Tom Mitchell won silver at the 2016 Olympic Games and bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. An icon of the sport on British soil, Mitchell led Team GB to silver at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro before winning bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast with Team England.
Tom Mitchell of Team Great Britain waits before taking to the field during the Rugby Sevens Men's Quarter-final match between Great Britain and United States on day four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tokyo Stadium
Image credit: Getty Images
Former Team GB captain Tom Mitchell will make a sensational return to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series after two years away.
The 33-year-old has been selected by England for the series stop in Los Angeles with the squad led by Freddie Roddick for the first time.
An icon of the sport on British soil, Mitchell led Team GB to silver at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro before winning bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast with Team England.
The sevens star joined Major League Rugby side the LA Giltinis on a two-year deal at the beginning of 2022 following his return from an injury.
But he will revert to the shorter form alongside a returning team-mate from the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Ethan Waddleton.
England sevens head coach Tony Roques said: "We are delighted to welcome Tom Mitchell and Ethan Waddleton back to the group.
"Tom has been in and around camp in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games and brings a wealth of experience into a young group having competed in two Olympic Games and two Commonwealth Games already, so we know the capabilities he has on the pitch and around the group.
"Ethan is a top quality player that also represented Team GB in Tokyo and brings his vast experience on the sevens circuit."
Olympian Alex Davis, who led England to a disappointing ninth at the Commonwealth Games, won't feature as he continues his rehabilitation from injury.
Jamie Adamson, Api Bavadra and Jamie Barden will also feature in Pool D when England take on Scotland, Kenya and Samoa on day one.
Veteran Tom Bowen is included for the final leg of the 2022 World Sevens Series, as are Tom Emery and Will Homer.
Blake Boyland, Max Clementson and Charlton Kerr make up the 13-man squad which will get their series underway on Saturday, August 27.
Roques added: "Freddie (Roddick) epitomises the values and behaviours we hold dear as a programme and thoroughly deserves his opportunity to captain England in our last appearance on the World Series.
"This is our final tournament before the World Cup and we want to ensure we keep trying to build, learn and grow as a group.
"We are really looking forward to playing out in LA for the final leg of the 2022 World Sevens Series."
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