James Rodwell
{{Short description|English rugby union player}}
{{for|the English footballer and administrator|Jim Rodwell}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = James Rodwell
| image = James Rodwell 2009 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Rodwell at the 2009 Hong Kong Sevens
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1984|8|23}}
| birth_place = Wendover, Buckinghamshire, England
| height = 1.95 m
| weight = 106 kg
| ru_position = Forward
| amatyears1 =
| amatteam1 =
| years1 =
| clubs1 =
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| repyears1 =
| repteam1 =
| repcaps1 =
| reppoints1 =
| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2008–
| ru_sevensnationalteam1 = {{ru7|England|noflag=1}}
| ru_sevensnationalcomp1 = 93
| medals =
{{MedalSport|Men's rugby sevens}}
{{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}}
{{MedalSilver|2016 Rio de Janeiro|Team competition}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ENG}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Commonwealth Games}}
{{MedalBronze|2018 Gold Coast|Team competition}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ENG}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Cup 7’s}}
{{MedalSilver|2013 Moscow World Cup}}
{{MedalSilver|2018 San Francisco World Cup}}
}}
James Rodwell (born 23 August 1984) is an English professional rugby sevens player who was part of the national squad from 2008 to 2019.{{cite web |url=http://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandSevens/JamesRodwell |title=James Rodwell – Official RFU England Profile |publisher=Rfu.com |accessdate=2012-11-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022193452/http://www.rfu.com/squadsandplayers/englandsevens/jamesrodwell |archivedate=22 October 2012}} He ended his career with records as the Worlds most capped sevens player,{{Cite web |url=https://teamengland.org/team-england-athletes/james-rodwell |title=James Rodwell - Rugby Sevens |website=Team England |access-date=10 June 2019}} having played in the most consecutive tournaments (69){{citation needed|date=April 2019}} and most tournaments (93) in the World Rugby Sevens Series.
James is now Assistant coach for the Men’s and Women’s England Sevens teams.
Early life
Rodwell was born in Wendover and began his education at Osmington School, Tring. He began playing rugby at the age of seven at Tring RFC, his local club. From the age of ten he played for Berkhamsted Collegiate School, figuring at centre and full-back.
Rodwell rapidly rose through representative squads, playing with Hertfordshire Schools 18 Group, London & South East U18, captaining North Midlands U20 and representing Midlands U20. During his time at Moseley Rugby Club in Birmingham, Rodwell was voted the U21 player of the year in 2004-05, the players’ player in 2006-07, and supporters’ player in 2008-09.
At Birmingham University Rodwell played mainly at Number 8 for the first team, developing into a key member of the leadership group of a club which valued on-field performance as well as social development.
In 2005 he was selected for English Universities, followed by England Counties (2006) and England Sevens (2008).
He completed his studies with a degree in Business Commerce.
Sevens
Rodwell made his England sevens debut against the United States at Dubai in 2008.
James was named IRB player of the tournament in the 2010 Dubai leg of the series. He represented England in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi where the team finished fourth.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9002081.stm |title=Ben Gollings to lead England Commonwealth sevens team |publisher=BBC News |date=2010-09-15 |accessdate=2012-11-08}}
He also represented England in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where the team finished fifth. Rodwell also won the Mark of Excellency award in the 2019 London 7's which also marks his last tournament in front of his home fans.
Honours
- Silver Medal (Great Britain): Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics
- National Trophy: 2009
- IRB player of the tournament Dubai 7s: 2010{{Cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12504/8293643/james-rodwell-hopes-england-can-defend-their-dubai-sevens-title |title=James Rodwell hopes England can defend their Dubai Sevens title |website=Sky Sports |language=en |access-date=2019-06-11}}
- Wellington 7s: 2009 and 2013
- London 7s: 2009
- Dubai 7s: 2010 and 2011
- Tokyo 7s: 2015
- Cape Town 7s: 2016
- Vancouver 7s: 2017
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Olympedia}}
- {{Olympics.com}}
- {{Team GB|4VqwaVRQPezDFIValYWO2H}}
- {{Team England|james-rodwell}}
- {{2010 Commonwealth Games profile|769034}}
- {{2014 Commonwealth Games profile|rugby_sevens/1023546/j_rodwell}}
- {{2018 Commonwealth Games profile|rugby-sevens/athlete-profile-n6029989-james-rodwell}}
{{Great Britain rugby sevens squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodwell, James}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:England international rugby sevens players
Category:Great Britain international rugby sevens players
Category:Male rugby sevens players
Category:Olympic rugby sevens players for Great Britain
Category:Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain
Category:Olympic medalists in rugby sevens
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Category:Commonwealth Games rugby sevens players for England
Category:Commonwealth Games medallists in rugby sevens
Category:Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Category:Medallists at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
Category:Alumni of the University of Birmingham