Great Britain’s sevens stars are seeking new opportunities on the global circuit as a new start-up series, Ultimate Sevens, prepares to launch in September. The initiative, featuring four events in Madrid, Cardiff, Biarritz and London, aims to provide top-level competition for players who have been forced to scale back their involvement due to budget cuts. The series will include 10-minute knockout matches with optional timeouts, contested by six newly formed teams. Among the key players involved is Abbie Brown, a 30-year-old marquee player for the new circuit, who has previously captained the Great Britain sevens team that won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
sevens as a passion and a career
For Brown, sevens is not just a sport but a passion. “And sevens is exactly where I find my love,” she said. To continue playing, she has traveled to India, captaining the Mumbai Dreamers franchise in the country’s Rugby Premier League this summer. Her GB teammate Ellie Boatman has gone even further, playing on Japan’s domestic sevens circuit for the Mie Pearls. Despite the challenges, Brown remains proud of her achievements and the success of her teammates. Six of the seven played in the Red Roses’ World Cup final win over Canada last year.
scaling back and new opportunities
Great Britain’s full-time sevens programme was scrapped in July to save money, leading to fears that the nation’s ability to compete internationally would be compromised. The men’s and women’s teams now only train together for tournaments, with players having to find alternative ways to supplement their income and support their rugby careers. Brown has taken on coaching and mentoring roles, including a 15-a-side contract with Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) side Loughborough Lightning. However, she continues to search for sevens opportunities, even if it means traveling abroad.
Ultimate Sevens, led by Tom Mitchell, who captained Great Britain Sevens at two Olympics, aims to complement the existing rugby calendar rather than disrupt it. Mitchell, the event’s sport and innovations director, emphasized the importance of contributing additional playing and financial opportunities for players and coaches. It’s about us contributing additional opportunity, both in playing time but also financial opportunity. The new series will feature stars from around the world, including Australia’s Maddison Levi and Argentina’s Luciano Gonzalez, with the final event set to take place at Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford on 24 September.
Fifteen of Brown’s Great Britain teammates, including Svns rookie of the year nominee Finley Lloyd-Gilmour, are joining the new series. The event is expected to bring a mix of local and international talent, with players like Will Jones, who co-captained Great Britain Sevens alongside Brown in the past, likely to be present. “Meg is definitely going to be there with a sign for you Abbie,” said Mitchell, adding that Brown would have words if she didn’t show up. The new series is also drawing in 15-a-side stars, even if they are now watching from the stands rather than playing on the pitch.
With the new start-up series offering a platform for players to compete at the highest level, Great Britain’s sevens stars are hoping to find a way to keep their passion alive while contributing to the growth of the sport. As the series prepares to launch, the focus remains on providing opportunities that can help players thrive, both on and off the field.
