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Wallabies youngster Jack Maddocks puts international ambitions on hold in pursuit of Olympic gold
By Online Editors
Emerging Wallaby Jack Maddocks will put his test rugby career on hold as he chases Olympic glory with the Australian Sevens team.
The 22-year-old's stint with the Sevens program is set to be extended through the first half of 2020 with Maddocks looking to lock down a place for the Tokyo Games.
He helped the men's team book an Olympics berth through a qualification tournament in Fiji earlier this month after being "seconded" into the squad.
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If Maddocks makes the team for the Olympics, which runs from July 24 to August 9, he will be unavailable for the two-test Ireland series in June as well as the opening Bledisloe Cup match in Melbourne on August 8.
His Super Rugby club Melbourne and the Australian Sevens management will meet this week to nut out a program for the young flyer to continue in both forms of the game.
An exciting outside back, Maddocks has played six test matches and narrowly missed out on the Wallabies World Cup squad.
Maddocks was still very much required by the Rebels, but chief executive Baden Stephenson said they wanted to come up with a plan to keep all parties satisfied.
There are 10 rounds of the World Rugby Sevens Series before the Olympics.
"We're working through it this week," Stephenson said.
"We're working through the timings of the tournaments and national representation will probably take precedence, so that's Wallabies and Sevens, but they're very happy to work with us and look at the different windows of when he's available.
"Jack's really keen to play in the Olympics and we want to support him - it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity."
"Jack's a confidence player and when he's happy and enjoying himself, he's scoring tries and playing good rugby," Stephenson said.
"This was a way to re-energise him and give him a new challenge and from all reports he's really enjoying it."
Veteran Quade Cooper tried to switch to Sevens in the lead-up to the Rio Olympics but ultimately fell short while former Wallabies winger Nick Cummins made the transition between both forms, earning 35 Sevens caps - including a Commonwealth Games silver medal - along with 15 test appearances.
AAP
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Latest Comments
It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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