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Joe Lydon, Performance Director at Great Britain Rugby Sevens (GB7s) issues statement:
From the outset of working with the GB7s squads, our priority has been to support our people and develop performance.
The players and staff are the ones who make the biggest sacrifices. These are not highly paid individuals. These athletes are the ones who put their bodies on the line to represent Great Britain.
Having now reflected upon the proposed changes, one thing is clear: rugby is once again failing to learn the lessons of its past, to see the opportunities within its grasp, and to seize the chance to mirror the successes of other sports around the world.
Safeguarding the wellbeing, safety and future of players
Most alarmingly of all, we are failing to safeguard the future, well-being, and safety of those who proudly wear the Great Britain jersey.
Experts and statistics are informing us that not providing the appropriate levels of preparation and player development will result in an increase in the frequency and severity of injuries across both squads.
We invite the Unions to address these concerns.
The players deserve nothing less.
Alternative funding options
While we understand and appreciate that there are competing priorities and financial challenges being faced across the world game, the Unions had another option.
They still do.
We have been in discussions with the Unions, World Rugby and potential investors, and we were prepared to demonstrate our ability to fully fund the GB7s programmes until at least the Los Angeles Olympics.
As it stands, that opportunity has now been needlessly abandoned, and the impact will be devastating if not fatal to the GB7s programme.
‘Camp and Competition model’
Under the new proposals, GB7s will struggle to compete against those with full-time programmes.
The two squads will quickly lose their standing in the top tier of the World Series and will find it increasingly difficult in attempts to qualify for the future Olympic Games.
To risk not having the opportunity to compete or hold a seat at the top table and at a time when the sport should be building on the huge successes of Sevens rugby at last year's Paris Olympic Games, is the greatest tragedy of all.
The future of sevens
Thousands of young people will continue to compete in youth, university, and open tournaments across the UK, but without a pinnacle of the sport, their hopes, dreams, and ambitions could, like the GB7s programme, lie broken and in tatters.
Now is not the time to downscale support of Sevens rugby, it is the time to invest in it.
