‘It’s good to know we can ask each other about parenting’

Rodwell’s sons, George and Oliver, are 3½ and 15 months respectively; Bibby’s son, Jasper, is 20 months, while Norton’s child, Zachary, is 2¼. The precision of the quarter – as spelt out by Norton – elicits laughter from Rodwell and Bibby but their team-mate is quick to swat them off.

“If we go by two, he could be anything – he could be just gone two or he could be going on three, so he is 2¼,” he protests. “It is important in terms of his development.”

Suddenly, the giggling stops, and Rodwell and Bibby both nod in

‘It’s about having the perspective to know that you can’t be the best dad all of the time’

quiet understanding. It is typical of the bond these players share, one that has been forged over the art of nappy-changing as much as try-scoring.

“It is good knowing you can have these two to rely on to ask questions about parenting,” Bibby points out. “I know I could trust them – well, I would go to Rodders first …”

Of course, it is not unusual for rugby players to balance fatherhood with representing their country. But it is the gruelling nature of sevens’ World Series season, where 10 tournaments are set into two-week blocks, followed by a month back home, that makes the work-life balance so precarious.

This season, England have shoehorned two more tournaments into that schedule: the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April, where they claimed bronze, and the Rugby World Cup Sevens, which is slated for San Francisco in late July.

Such is the rhythm of the season, partners and young children tend not to travel to tournaments, which is often not the case in individual sports such as golf or tennis.

Then there are the financial constraints. As sevens does not attract similar riches to XVS, wives and partners all tend to work, meaning that player-dads are acutely aware of the additional stresses put on their partners.

Rodwell’s wife, Amy, works three days a week for Surrey County Council in flood-risk assessment, Bibby’s wife, Katie, is completing a PHD in clinical psychology while Norton’s fiancee, Samantha, also works part-time as a veterinary nurse.

“I found it really tough going from one child to two,” Rodwell, 33, admits. “When Amy went back to work from maternity leave with Oliver, that period was really tough for me – the juggling of training and home life. Suddenly, I went from getting a lot of help at home from Amy to her leaving for work early in a new job and me having to take both boys to different places in the morning, getting them ready and suddenly having to switch into training. I really struggled