Former Cambuslang coach Scott Forrest says GB’s Women’s Sevens team deserved more after missing out on a bronze at Tokyo 2020.
And Forrest hopes our Sevens programme is allowed to continue until Paris 2024 and beyond.
GB lost the bronze medal match 21-12 to Fiji, having lost 26-19 to France in their semi-final. France were beaten to gold by New Zealand.
Forrest said: “I am disappointed for the players.
“We have spoken through this whole process about it being more than a medal, but I think all the players would appreciate something tangible for their efforts over the last six months.”
Given what they had overcome to even make it to Tokyo, it was impressive that Forrest’s girls made it that far, having only trained together for six months.
The men and women’s sevens teams lost funding in August following the Rugby Football Union’s cost-cutting measures to deal with the Covid fall-out.
A deal was struck between the RFU, Scottish Rugby, Welsh Rugby Union and the National Lottery promotional fund, which got them £2m to see them through until the end of this year.
That will allow GB to play on the World Series circuit, should it go ahead, but after that, and with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on the horizon, the onus will fall back on the home nations to provide their own teams.
“This squad has finished fourth after just six months of training,” said Forrest.
“I would like nothing more than to continue this programme and build towards another Olympics.
“The possibilities if we did get a full-time programme together would be very exiting.
“Six months ago we didn’t have this opportunity, so in terms of the National Lottery stepping in, it has been unbelievable.
“I know that it is going to be extended until the end of this year, so we will have World Series opportunities.
“Then, from January 1, we go back into the Home Unions, then there is the Commonwealth Games, and who knows after that?
“It is very hard to equate money to medals.
“We would all love the opportunity to compete as GB, but when it is three unions trying to come together, it is never easy for legitimate reasons.
“There is no grudge from us.”
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