Argentina 7s head coach Santiago Gómez Cora, the leading try scorer in the history of the 7s series, speaks of his excitement ahead of the start of the 2015-16 campaign.
“An exciting season is about to start! It is incredible to think that the Olympic Games are now so close and although we have a very tough series ahead, players and coaches in every country cannot stop thinking that the end of this season will be in Rio and with Olympic medals at stake.
“In order to enjoy such a season, I plan to take it one day at a time. If you live ahead of what is happening today it might mean that then, everything comes too fast.
“It will be a very intense HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2015-16 and if we want to be really competitive in Rio, we have to first focus on what is in front of us. We are on our way to Dubai, then Cape Town and so on. One step at a time will be the Pumas Sevens way.
“Having been at the Pan American Games in Toronto earlier this year was a great experience. Although rugby has now been in two Pan Am Games — the previous in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2011 — I had retired in 2010 and missed the chance, so it was a great opportunity for me, my staff and the players to enjoy the village; it’s something that you can’t describe but I can say that I wish that every sportsman can live an Olympic week. I imagine what we experienced in Toronto will be multiplied by five, as we’ll be living amongst and enjoying the company of sportsmen and women from the five continents.
“I was unlucky not to play in an era with Olympic Games and I would have given everything to play in one. I hope that all of us who played in the early years of the series helped to put our sport in the Games; that gives me a lot of pride.
“I understand the passion the players now have and I also envy the position they are in. At least as a coach I’ll have the opportunity to be involved in the Olympic Games.”
