YOUNG GUNS
CALLUM SIRKER
Ashoulder injury might have taken his career to another direction but 18-year-old Callum Sirker is now hoping to become an Olympian after joining the England Sevens Academy.
Spending most of the XVs season with Wasps on the sidelines, the young flier returned in time for Harrow School as they kicked off their Sevens campaign.
Wins at the Marches, Middlesex and Reigate tournaments put him on England boss Simon Amor’s radar and, after watching winger Sirker help his school reach the Rosslyn Park final, he was quick to offer him a place in his academy.
Sirker said: “I had been with Wasps for a long time and gone through the ranks and it was going great. I played for England U16s and even managed to make an appearance in the A-league but then I got injured.
“I spent four months out with a shoulder injury and missed the start of last season. When I got back I scored a try but I injured it again and spent the next five months out.
“I ended up missing the entire XVs season so unfortunately they had no choice. You can’t win a contract if you can’t play and that’s fair enough. Simon first approached me at the Rosslyn Park Sevens. He asked if I’d be keen to go on a trial and I jumped at the opportunity. I was offered a contract and I’ve got a year to show what I can do.
“To think I could become an Olympian in four years’ time is just unbelievable and I’m determined to do my best to make an impact as soon as possible and maybe even play in the World Series.”
Sirker linked up with the Sevens academy and last week they entered the Sevens & the City tournament, showing him the standards he will have to meet if he is to break into the first team and make his World Series debut.
He added: “I’ve only spent ten days training before going off on holidays but it was very intense.
“You need to be very fit to play Sevens and the intensity of training is really high which I like.
“We played at Allianz Park and that was an unbelievable experience. We usually play under the RFU IPF name but because it was an international tournament we were called England and we got to wear the England Sevens kit.
“We played France and one of the Team GB side which was a great experience. It gave us a taste of what it takes to be at the highest level.
“It was brilliant to take on the likes of Dan Norton, Dan Bibby and Tom Mitchell and I can’t wait to train with them when they come back from the Olympics.”