Record-breaking Darcy Graham to rewind the clock after shock call-up

Great Britain 7s have turned to Scotland’s record try-scorer Darcy Graham in a bid to defy the odds and preserve their place amongst the elite of international sevens rugby.

The Scottish Rugby-run outfit experienced a frustrating weekend in Valladolid last time out and are aiming for a high finish in Bordeaux this weekend to haul themselves off the bottom of the SVNS Championship standings.

GB Sevens need to finish in the top eight for their future in the top-level competition to be guaranteed and Graham’s involvement should give them a boost, even though it is long time since the wing played the shortened format of the game.

Graham competed on the World Series for Scotland from 2016-2018 and played at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“David Nucifora called and asked me if I wanted to join the boys out in Bordeaux. I’m on downtime right now but I jumped at the opportunity and I’m buzzing. If I wasn’t doing this I would just be training away so I’d rather be competing at a high level,” said Graham.

“I’m excited to get back out there. It’s been eight years since I was last on the world series and the game is a lot different so I’ll have to flick that switch to catch up with the rest of the boys. There is a bit of added pressure there to finish in the top eight so it’ll be a massive weekend for me and the boys.”

Reflecting on his experience playing the sevens game in the past, he said: “I loved it. Scotland have missed the sevens as it gives you massive development for playing 15s. Me, Maggie (Magnus Bradbury) and George Horne have all come through that programme. I wouldn’t be in the position I am today without it. You can almost use it as a third pro team to kick boys on in their career and it’s great Scottish Rugby are driving it forward.”

With the Nations Championship squad announcement looming, Graham’s focus is still on playing for Scotland this summer where they play Argentina and South Africa away from home. They’ll then return to Edinburgh to take on Fiji in a match Graham is really looking forward to.

He said: “I love playing for Scotland and always want to do my best and perform. It’ll be good for us to play Fiji at Murrayfield. I love playing them. It’s always a special game for me. They’re physical and you never quite know what they’re going to throw at you.”