YOUNG GUNS

CALLUM SIRKER

Callum Sirker ended the past two seasons at Twickenham but what a journey the last 14 months have been for the England Sevens flyer.

Sirker capped off his school career in May 2016 by turning out at HQ with Harrow in a repeat of the Rosslyn Park Sevens final against Cranleigh as an exhibition during the final leg of the World Sevens Series.

Fast forward a year and Sirker brought his boots to the home of English rugby once more but this time to take part in the main event to cap a breakthrough season with England Sevens.

“I’m loving my time with England Sevens and I’ve had a great 12 months since leaving school,” he told The Rugby Paper. “I played a lot of rugby this season and I was lucky enough to play in four World Series tournaments.

“Making my debut in Hong Kong against New Zealand was just brilliant. I got some wonderful memories and it was pretty cool to play at Twickenham for England.

“I saw the school game this year, too, and it was amazing to think that was me only a few months back. I spoke about it with my father and it was a proud moment for both of us.

“I’ve got to thank Simon Amor for giving me the opportunity to experience the World Series in my first year. If it wasn’t for him having confidence in me in the first place I wouldn’t be where I am today.

“The speed of the game is incredible and as tired as I was in my first few games I got up to speed the more I played. Testing myself against the best Sevens players in the world is the only way to get better.”

The World Series is a ruthless environment for any youngster and any mistake is instantly exposed and usually results in a try.

But Sirker has made an incredible transition from school rugby and he credits Harrow as well as his wing rivals for his success.

He said: “Going to Harrow helped me out a lot in terms of discipline. Rules and regulations are pretty rigid there but that’s what you need as a professional rugby player.

“So I didn’t find adapting to the England Sevens programme too difficult because I was already mentally prepared to do that.

“The fitness levels required were another story. I thought I was fit when I turned up to training but I was wrong. Sevens players are incredible when it comes to fitness.

“Training every day with Dan Norton and Tom Bowen was brilliant for me, too. I heard rumours that I was faster than Dan but I’ve got to give it to him.

“He’s the most prolific try-scorer in World Series history so trying to push him to take his spot was always going to make myself and the team as a whole better.

“I’d love to get more game time on the World Series but there’s also the World Cup next season and the Commonwealth Games.

“It’d be wonderful to be involved in that. Maybe I can sit down with my dad again in a year and look back at another special

season.”