James Rodwell: We'll have to be at our best in Dubai

James Rodwell is hoping reigning Champions England can clinch a third successive victory in Dubai when they compete in the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens (Nov 29 - Dec 1). 

The experienced forward has played in the last two Cup victories in Dubai but, with England facing some tough Pool matches, he is not taking anything for granted.

“I'd love to say that we will come and complete the hat trick, but we have got a tough Pool to start with,” he said. “We will have to take each game as it comes and, with the teams we have drawn, we have to be playing at our best to even qualify from the group.

“The likes of South Africa and Samoa are two massive countries and Portugal, likes us, probably didn't do as well as they would have hoped on the Gold Coast last month, so they will be looking to bounce back.

England’s James Rodwell Climbs High In A Line Out During The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens 2011 Cup Final vs France

“We didn’t help ourselves with the Pools being done on the Gold Coast results,” admitted the 28-year-old, who was part of the England team that lost out to Spain in the Bowl Final in Australia.

The disappointment of what happened in Round 1 of the HSBC Sevens World Series is still being felt in the England camp, but Rodwell is targeting Dubai as the place that England can begin in earnest their bid for the Series title.

“We are aiming to kick start out season in Dubai and to try and pick up where we left off last year,” he said.
“There are a few things that we will try and change because we didn’t play to our full potential on the Gold Coast and the results didn’t go how we wanted them to.

“It doesn’t mean we are bad team over night, we just had a bad tournament and we will be looking to put thing right in Dubai. We finished third in the world last year and the team is very similar to what it was then.

“People from the outside might think that games against teams like Spain and Kenya are going to be easy but in sevens it's such an open game that if you make one little mistake you will get punished. There is so much space on the pitch that covering someone else is virtually impossible.

“The games we have played this season have been competitive and I think it will be like that all year. You really have to be on the money throughout the whole game.”

Rodwell made his sevens debut in Dubai four years ago and he admits it is a special place for him and for England.

"Dubai is one of my favourite tournaments,” he said. “The crowd is always amazing and they make it feel like a home game for us. They give us that little bit extra when we're feeling a little bit tired. When you hear the crowd, you're straight back up on your feet. That number of people behind you definitely gives you a boost. We don’t take that for granted, but it makes you feel at home.

“When we travel to places like Australia and New Zealand and the crowd hates us, it can work in one of two ways - it either spurs you on or it sits in the back of your mind – but in Dubai the cheers when we come out to warm up are very special.”

Tickets to this year’s Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens are available now online through www.dubairugby7s.comand from selected Costa and MMI outlets, Virgin Megastores, Emirates Group Headquarters, dnata offices and at 7he Sevens. Please remember – Save money by buying your tickets now.

As in previous years, numerous buses will be on duty to transport fans from 7he Sevens, back to various convenient locations across Dubai, free of charge.

For more information on the tournament, log on to www.dubairugby7s.com.