Aus bolster Sevens stocks
The Australian Rugby Union today announced that Waratahs club captain Pat McCutcheon and pacy outside back Henry Hutchison will join the Australian Sevens program for the 2015-16 Sevens Series.
Twenty-eight-year old McCutcheon – a national Sevens representative from 2007-2010 – already has 10 World Series caps to his name and was part of the squad that won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. The loose forward has played 37 times for the Waratahs since making his Super Rugby debut against the Highlanders in 2010.
Despite being just 18-year-old, Hutchison already boasts a wealth of international experience having represented Australian Schoolboys in 2013 and 2014 as well as Randwick in Sydney's Shute Shield club rugby competition. The Sydney-born speedster was also recently selected to represent Australia in Sevens at the forthcoming Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.
Pat McCutcheon said: "It's exciting to be back part of the Sevens program again – I already know blokes like James Stannard and Ed Jenkins who have been here for a few years now.
"It's been good to see how far the program has come over the past five or six years – from a semi-professional team to a professional environment. It's exciting, it's new for me.
"I need to catch up to the rest of the boys as they're all in pretty good nick. They're fast on their feet and quick with the ball in hand. I've probably got a bit of conditioning to get under my belt but hopefully I can bring an older head, a bit of a leadership and a calming effect."
Henry Hutchison said: "I'm hoping I can bring a bit of speed to the group. As well as training with the national Sevens program, I have an important tournament for both myself and the team in Samoa next month.
"Geraint [John] and the boys have been extremely welcoming to me and it's great to be here."
John said: "Pat [McCutcheon] brings with him experience of playing in Super Rugby but also previously with the Sevens program a few years back. He brings knowledge and leadership and it’s that leadership that we hope will get us to where we want to be. He's brought that to training already as well as a toughness and hardness.
"Henry [Hutchison] is a player we have had an eye on for a while. He brings electrifying speed but it's also about developing players. It's not just about 2015, 2016 but also 2017 and beyond. Henry has a bright future and we feel the Sevens program will also be good for his development as a player.
