Page 16 - RFU Annual Report 2015/2016

Chief Executive Officer
14

With the Rio
Olympics placing
sevens firmly in the
spotlight and Team GB men
and women on the world’s biggest
sporting stage, the women’s
squad, under Simon Middleton,
gave it their all but unfortunately
failed to win medals. However,
they did Great Britain proud and
inspired many young
girls back home to
pick up a rugby ball,
having been fantastic role models
for the game.
Team GB men,
with Simon Amor
in charge, did an
incredible job in
winning a silver
medal.

Beating some of the big sides to
reach the final in Rio was testament
to the hard work, commitment and
determination of all of the players,
coaches and the management
involved.

They had an intense 10-week
concentrated programme to
prepare to play as determinedly
as they did and with a brilliant GB
spirit. The success of rugby sevens
at the Olympics marks a really
significant moment for the sport,
and we congratulate the Team GB
sevens squad for winning silver
in this very first rugby sevens
Olympic competition.
The three home unions worked
closely together to put in place
a men’s and women’s Olympic
programme, and we are all very
proud of the way everyone pulled
together.

The sevens
programme will
again be important
next year, especially with
the World Sevens Series and
qualification for Rugby World Cup
Sevens in 2018.

Annual Report 2015/16