Youngster in 7s heaven at Olympics
DIETRICH Roache has a number of jobs in Tokyo but a crucial one involves guarding a new best mate from any sort of trouble - including kidnapping.
As the youngest member of the Australian men’s rugby sevens side, the 20-year-old must watch team mascot Wally with his life, keeping the stuffed toy wallaby safe at all times and propping him on the sidelines to watch games on match day. It’s a job that comes with hazards and penalties if Wally should go missing.
Roache’s journey to the Olympics is so unusual it “freaks” his teammates out.
Never much interested in sport until midway through his teens, he didn’t even start playing rugby until five years ago.
“Both dad and my uncle played for the Two Blues but I didn’t really get interested in it until quite recently. They didn’t push me to play, they just let it happen naturally,’’ Roache said.
“I was watching the Sydney Sevens in 2018 on a family outing. I watched the Australia men and I just fell in love, fell in love with the sport and the environment.
“I never grew up dreaming about it. I’m on a very different pathway to my teammates who have been dreaming about this their whole life.”
Roach said his life changed after watching the Sydney Sevens.