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The 'special' Paris return Harry Glover wants after a 'crazy series'
Funny how it all works out. Harry Glover was one of the rugby players who paid a high price when the pandemic shut down the world. It was July 2020 when the RFU informed him that contracts for the England sevens programme were terminated and it left the 2018 Rugby World Cup 7s silver medal holder suddenly unemployed.
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Crossing the Channel has become de rigueur for English rugby in the last 12 months with so many big names taking up big-money offers to experience the delights of French club rugby.
Glover’s move, though, was made in very different circumstances but his emergency switch was ultimately worth its weight in gold.
He joined tier-two Carcassonne as a three-month medical joker and with all Pro D2 matches shown on TV, his impact there didn’t go unnoticed. Stade Francais wanted him in Paris and after going to the delayed Tokyo Olympics with Team GB in 2021, he enjoyed two fantastic seasons in the French capital.
Now the task is to ensure he plays there again in 15 weeks. It’s definitely not certain. Great Britain must come through the last-chance repechage in Monaco in mid-June if they are to book a late ticket to Paris 2024.
However, while their inconsistent form on the reimagined HSBC SVNS circuit has left them facing being involved in the relegation play-offs in Madrid unless they thrive in Singapore next month, they have at times shown they really do have the potential to succeed.
Just last month they reached the final in Los Angeles, only losing out to an Antoine Dupont-inspired France. This was after 10th, ninth, 11th and seventh place finishes in Dubai, Cape Town, Perth and Vancouver.
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In Hong Kong, it was a return to squabbling over a minor placing, Britain winning the 11th-place play-off versus Canada 26-17 to leave them ninth in the overall standings, seven points behind the USA with one more leg to play before the Grand Final cut-off for Madrid.
What was Glover’s verdict on Hong Kong, a tournament where they ended with two points after the win over the Canadians rounded off a campaign that featured losses to title winners New Zealand, the USA, series leaders Argentina and fellow relegation battlers Samoa?
“We knew we only had one match on Sunday and to get the win is pretty big,” said Glover to RugbyPass before embarking on a lap around the Hong Kong Stadium touchline to salute the support they had received across the three days.
“We’re fighting for every point. As we know, the next tournament in Singapore is the one where we get ranked so that extra point (for beating Canada) could mean the world. We knew it would be really tough here.
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“Tough, tough pool, but the series is crazy – anyone can beat anyone at the moment. We are always dogging it out with every team but it’s the fine margins. We just need to have a look back and see where we can improve.
“There is no place like Hong Kong. If this is the last tournament here (at the iconic Island stadium), it’s been really, really special. Every time we come back it’s just the coolest place.”
"Proud…" – Tom Emery, whose last-gasp conversion forced extra time, gives his take to Liam Heagney ?? on Great Britain's unlucky 14-17 loss in Hong Kong to Argentina. #HK7s #HSBCSVNS #SVNSSeries #OfficialHK7s
Catch all the action live on RugbyPass TV https://t.co/z90EMWX9EI pic.twitter.com/qazrWuJOVD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2024
Competing as GB isn’t as easy if Glover was part of just an England team. “It’s three different countries coming together, location of training is always tough, we don’t have a huge amount of time together. But no excuses, we love what we do. When we get to play together it’s brilliant.”
Having enjoyed a lovely stint at XVs in France, what would it mean to Glover to book a return ticket to Paris for the Olympics at the end of a season that initially had some teething issues? “That would be really special, but we have got a big job to do in Monaco.
“Even when I was in Paris I could see all the stuff that was happening for the Olympics and it is going to be one hell of a party out there, so fingers crossed we will be there.
“It’s been good coming back to sevens. Definitely felt a bit of weight in the first few tournaments but hopefully that has shedded. But yeah, I have loved it. Sevens has a special place in my heart and yeah, absolutely loving being back on the series.”
Comments on RugbyPass
This cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
6 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
109 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
6 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
6 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
6 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
109 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
109 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
109 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
109 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
109 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
109 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
109 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
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