Mark Bennett is the exception among the British men’s sevens squad named yesterday for the Rio Olympics as he is the only one to have been capped at XV level.
The 23-year-old Scottish centre - capped 16 times and who impressed at last year’s World Cup - will not skipper the side, that honour going to Tom Mitchell.
The squad also includes James Rodwell, who set a new world record earlier this year after playing in 69 consecutive World Rugby Sevens Series’ tournaments, and Dan Norton, the series’ fourth-highest leading scorer of all time.
Two of the squad - who have been given few favours on the sport’s return to the Games after a hiatus of 92 years in a tough pool which features unpredictable Kenya, New Zealand and Japan - Marcus Watson and James Davies, both 25, are brothers of established XV stars English wing Anthony Watson and Welsh centre great Jonathan Davies.
“We have named a talented and experienced squad of 12 players today which we believe offers the right combinations and complimenting skill sets needed to be successful in Rio,” men’s head coach Simon Amor said.
“It has however been a 27-player effort and recognition must go to every player involved in the programme, as well as the hard working and exceptional management team.”
Britain’s men will face New Zealand, Kenya and Japan in Pool C, while the women play Brazil, Canada and Japan in Pool C.
By contrast the British women’s squad features just one non English representative in Wales’s Jasmine Joyce. The squad is captained by Emily Scarratt and includes Katy McLean, who skippered the XV side to World Cup glory in 2014. The women’s side is in a pool which includes hosts Brazil, Japan and Canada.
The women’s competition gets the Rugby proceedings underway from August 6-8 at the quadrennial sporting extravaganza with the men following in their thrall from August 9-11.
Men’s squad
Mark Bennett, Dan Bibby, Phil Burgess, Sam Cross, Alex Davis, James Davies, Ollie Lindsay Hague, Tom Mitchell (c), Dan Norton, James Rodwell, Mark Robertson, Marcus Watson.
Reserves: Luke Treharne, Ruaridh McConnochie.
Women’s squad
Claire Allan, Abbie Brown, Heather Fisher, Natasha Hunt, Jasmine Joyce, Katy McLean, Alice Richardson, Emily Scarratt, Emily Scott, Danielle Waterman, Joanne Watmore, Amy Wilson-Hardy.
Reserves: Megan Jones, Kay Wilson.