Home advantage is key - Burgess

By Mark Stevens
30/6/2016

Phil Burgess is hoping to use home advantage to help boost his claims to be part of the Great Britain Sevens squad for this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

As one of 25 players currently vying to be part of Simon Amor’s final, it’s competition like that of the upcoming Mitsubishi Motors Exeter 7s at Sandy Park, which will ultimately prove decisive in who boards the plane for the trip to the Brazilian capital in August.

A key figure in England Sevens squad for a number of years now, the 27-year-old has already clocked up his fair share of air miles, representing the Red Rose country on the IRB World Series.

The Olympics, however, is something different again and Burgess – like any sportsman or woman – knows competing at sports’ greatest games would be the ultimate achievement to have on the CV.

“It’s a huge carrot for all of us,” said Burgess. “Right now there are 25 of us all fighting like hell to get into that Olympic squad. It’s a huge opportunity for all the guys and one that we all want to be part of.

“That said, we’re all aware that half of the current squad are going to be cut at some stage, so it’s important you do what you can to not only put yourself in the best light, but at the same time ensure the squad overall is in the best place it can possibly be.”

Given their first official outing during the opening round of this year’s European Grand Prix Series in Moscow, Amor was suitably impressed by the achievements of the new-look GB teams, which brought together Sevens stars from England, Scotland and Wales.

Although hosts Russia prospered over France in the main final, the GB Lions – of which Burgess was a member – advanced to the semi-finals, only to be defeated by the eventual winners, while the GB Royals headed home with some silverware, having seen off Georgia to lift the Plate final.

“Overall we were pleased with how Moscow went,” added Burgess. “It was the first tournament using the two teams, so it was always going to be a bit different playing with new team-mates and learning new structures.

“Since then we’ve been training hard and getting to learn more and more about one another, so I think by the time we get to Exeter we will be in an even better position to really attack things.”

And it’s that thought of playing on familiar soil that Burgess, who honed his rugby skills initially with Camberley and Harlequins before switching to Loughborough University and then the Cornish Pirates, must exploit to his advantage.

“I know Exeter very well from my days with the Pirates and also having played for their A League side and also there in last season’s GP Sevens,” added Burgess. “It’s a great venue and it’s located in a real rugby heartland, so it’s like home from home for me.

“Playing the Sevens there last year was fantastic and a big improvement on the previous year in Manchester. The crowd down there know their rugby and really helped to generate a great atmosphere.

“I’ve no doubt it will be even better down there this year and with two GB teams competing, they will have plenty to shout about when it comes to the games as well.”

Burgess knows, however, that Team GB must make the most of us home advantage, not only in their bid to secure success over the weekend, but for events down the line.

“This is a home tournament for all of us, so we have to make the most of that,” continued Burgess. “Exeter showed last year that they are capable of staging a great event and it’s good that the Sevens game is taken out to place such as this.

“Yes, it’s a lot different when you compare it to London and the size of that event, but I think down in Exeter you get fans who are there for the sevens and not necessarily the occasion, because they really get behind you as players and really add to the whole occasion.”

But standing in the way of the GB teams will be a clutch of rivals, all of whom Burgess says are capable of causing problems on any given day.

“That’s the thing about sevens, anyone can get it right on the day and can win a game,” said Burgess. “The calibre of teams, not just on the World Series, but also in the European Series, is going up year on year.

“Standards of play, preparation, recovery, everything is improving all the time across the board and as players you know if you switch off for a minute or you don’t control possession, that can be the difference between winning and losing.

“The Exeter tournament will be another great test for all of us, but I’m hoping all the prep we do beforehand will ensure we arrive there in good shape and give ourselves the best chance of doing well.”

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