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‘I’m proud’: Gaston Revol makes history with 100th SVNS tournament
With thousands of supporters watching on at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon, SVNS veteran Gaston Revol was celebrated by all as a history-maker on the international series.
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With players from Argentina and France lined up in the tunnel and raring to go ahead of their Pool B clash, the SVNS world stood still as one legendary individual ran out onto the field.
Revol was met with deafening cheers of celebration by the incredible Cape Town crowd as they recognised the Argentine as the first person to play in 100 HSBC SVNS tournaments.
Gaston Revol is the first player to ever reach 💯 #HSBCSVNS tournament appearances 👏#HSBCSVNSCPT | @lospumas7arg pic.twitter.com/2SJ9nzH4A6
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) December 9, 2023
The SVNS centurion thanked the crowd for their meaningful support with a humble clap over his head before turning to greet his teammates as they ran out to meet him.
SVNS heavyweights Argentina celebrated the milestone moment with a 21-7 win which saw them take top spot in their pool ahead of a final match against Fiji on day one.
Walking off the field and down the tunnel, Revol wasn’t making this event or moment about him at all. Revol was talking with teammates as they made their way towards their changerooms but stopped for a minute to discuss his unrivalled achievement.
“For me it was a very nice moment,” Revol told RugbyPass. “I have been saying that the importance thing is the present, is now, this tournament, this team, is what we’re doing on the field.
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“I feel really proud of this career. I’m proud of still being here with these guys and enjoying our present.
“The person in charge, or the one who made the big difference was ‘Santi’ – Santiago Gomez Cora,” he added.
“Since he started, he tried to change our minds, to change the structure, to change a lot of things that we were doing wrong. The man responsible is him.
“Of course I have been a part of the process and I am also really proud of what we’ve done all these years.”
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Revol has played a leading role in Argentina’s recent SVNS revolution, but the playmakers’ legacy goes so much further than a couple of years of greatness and accomplishment.
After debuting for the Los Pumas Sevens in 2009, Revol has only missed 16 tournaments – as reported by World Rugby, there have been 115 events since his debut.
But the rugby Gods were cruel to the SVNS veteran during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, with Revol receiving a red card during Argentina’s quarter-final win over South Africa.
Argentina went on to win a once unlikely bronze medal at the Tokyo Games, and have since gone on to win four SVNS cup finals – including a famous win in Hamilton, New Zealand.
“There are plenty of moments, plenty,” Revol said when asked to pick a career highlight.
“If I had to choose one, it’s perhaps the Olympics but I was crying there because I was out because of the red card.
“Perhaps Hamilton when we beat New Zealand in the final. If I had to choose one it would be that.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Marler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
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