Playing England 7s was an incredible experience
The Rugby Paper|August 18, 2024
I KNOW I'm going to be on the sidelines for a very long time after I retire so while the body is still willing-which it is at the moment just about at 45 then I'm going to continue playing as long as I can.
Ben Jaycock
Playing England 7s was an incredible experience

There will come a time in the not-so-distant future where I'll have to hang the boots up but right now I have no plans to stop because I love this sport. I'll hope to play with with two of my sons, my middle boy Campbell will be 17 in September, so can then play men's rugby alongside my eldest Bailey and me.

One of my career highlights was playing at the Commonwealth Games. In 2014 I was at London Scottish where Simon Amor used to coach before he went over to the England Sevens programme. Mike Friday was director of rugby at the time and told me at training Simon was going to get in contact with me.

The phone call came which meant I was going to have a crack at going to the Commonwealth Games. It was 10-12 weeks of slog to try and get ready but thankfully I made it and represented England which was an incredible experience, going on to win the plate competition. After that I went out to South Africa to play in a World Series tournament in Port Elizabeth which was good fun as well. I'm a huge advocate for sevens, I played until two years ago for Samurai who are now known as Shogun. Younger players want to play as much as they can, so sevens is great because it's fast, good for your skills and is fun.

Watching it at the Olympics this year was awesome, it was a bit of a shame how New Zealand performed finishing fifth which isn't where they wanted to be. GB didn't make it which is a shame but France were ridiculous, Antoine Dupont was next level and for him to switch in and out of XVs and 7s has been pretty freakish.

I got into the sport through my dad as he used to play at our local club Marist in Nelson, New Zealand.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE RUGBY PAPERView all
Edwards gives Gatland a little to think about
The Rugby Paper

Edwards gives Gatland a little to think about

A TERRIFIC effort from Ospreys should have seen victory and it was rough justice that high-flying Cardiff escaped with an undeserved draw.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Cowan-Dickie: I'm back and buzzing
The Rugby Paper

Cowan-Dickie: I'm back and buzzing

LUKE Cowan-Dickie's journey back to the pinnacle of rugby is nothing short of extraordinary.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Clow keeps Rams in touch at the top
The Rugby Paper

Clow keeps Rams in touch at the top

RAMS inward approach is paying dividends with the club involved in another title race thanks in part to free scoring flyer Zachary Clow.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Powell powers over to take Quins home
The Rugby Paper

Powell powers over to take Quins home

PLAYMAKER Kayleigh Powell powered past four defenders to score the eighth Harlequins try and narrowly edge out a spirited Trailfinders side to secure a late comeback win in a 15-try derby thriller.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Hathaway can follow Zam Skivington
The Rugby Paper

Hathaway can follow Zam Skivington

GEORGE Skivington has backed Josh Hathaway to continue to go from strength to strength as the young winger attempts to follow in the slipstream of Louis Rees-Zammit and be a big hit for club and country.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Hybrid Hash will tie Borthwick in knots
The Rugby Paper

Hybrid Hash will tie Borthwick in knots

THE description 'Hybrid Central Contracts' does not inspire confidence. Hybrid usually means a bit of this, and a bit of that — and 'Hybrid Hash' would be a more apt term for the RFU contracts given to 17 England players just before the autumn series slump.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Quins leave it late to power past Falcons
The Rugby Paper

Quins leave it late to power past Falcons

MARCUS Smith showed his class on Friday night, being an imperious creator and finisher as Harlequins romped to an emphatic five-try victory on Tyneside.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
We need to see a complete shake-up
The Rugby Paper

We need to see a complete shake-up

A NEW year and change is on the way across many aspects of the game, not least with the possibility of an SGM creating a complete change at the RFU.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Cool McBryde steals it for RGC
The Rugby Paper

Cool McBryde steals it for RGC

BILLY McBryde held his nerve to land a last kick of the match conversion to snatch a stunning 4139 win for RGC over leaders Ebbw Vale at Parc Eirias.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Century of highs for La Rochelle
The Rugby Paper

Century of highs for La Rochelle

AN IMPRESSIVE milestone at Stade Marcel Deflandre was reached last night, where La Rochelle hosted their 100th sell-out match in a row – either side of the period of pandemic restrictions – a run stretching back to January 2, 2016.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 05, 2025