‘What a story it would be’: Abbie Brown eyes 2028 Olympics with GB

The 2025-26 HSBC SVNS Series proved a difficult one for Great Britain, the side becoming the first team to be relegated from the first division under the new three-tier model.

However, veteran Abbie Brown is hoping to use the experience gained from the 2026 season to push a new generation forward, with an eye on getting Team GB back for the 2028 LA Olympics.

“We had about 25 new caps over the season,” Abbie Brown said in an interview with Olympics.com.

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“Fitness has been our biggest challenge.

“It’s shown just how fit you have to be for sevens now. Your high-speed metres, ability to tackle repeatedly in the same passage of play, constantly tracking back in warm weather – which we don’t experience while training in the UK.”

Despite the setbacks, this season has proven one of valuable reflection for Brown, especially when dealing with such a high number of new faces.

Having featured at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics across her career, Brown knows there is a lot of work to do to get the next crop of players performing consistently – but she can see enormous potential for the side to bounce back for 2028.

The work to get there will be part of the journey for the veteran.

“For me, leadership is about getting the best out of people, showing compassion, and treating everyone as an individual,” Brown said.

“My message this season was that it had to be bigger than us, as we want to stay on the series.

“People say that maybe I’ve got a bit of a screw loose because I absolutely love going to those dark times when you’re on the pitch and you’re so tired you can’t see straight, you are knackered, you’re putting your body on the line, fighting to win a rugby match.

“I love how hard you have to work in sevens… I’ve put my heart and soul into it for the last 10 years and I think for me it’s a higher purpose, and I still enjoy it.

“I’m not ready to hang up my boots.

“In order to get to LA, I just think it’s going to be a hell of a journey, but what a story it would be if we could get there.

“The U.S. will put on an amazing event, so I definitely want to keep going. I want to get to another Olympics, and showcase what we’re about in sevens and what Great Britain can do.”