Share

England rookie McConnochie eager to complete Olympic and World Cup double

Bristol - Uncapped winger Ruaridh McConnochie is on the brink of a notable achievement following his shock inclusion in England's squad for next month's Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The Bath flyer will join a select band of players to have appeared in both an Olympic Games and a World Cup having been a member of the Great Britain sevens squad that won a silver medal at the 2016 Games in Rio.  

McConnochie, 27, found himself in the 31-man squad for this year's tournament announced by coach Eddie Jones on Monday after just one season at the Recreation Ground.

But his pace and try-scoring ability impressed veteran boss Jones and means he follows in the footsteps of the likes of New Zealand's Sonny Bill Williams, Fiji's Leone Nakarawa and South Africa's Francois Hougaard.

McConnochie could now make his England 15-a-side debut in a World Cup warm-up clash against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

"I went to the Olympics as a travelling reserve, but it's still the same kind of excitement," he said.   

"It's incredible. The World (Sevens) Series is handy in playing in front of those crowds and the excitement for those tournaments, but this is a new challenge for me."

"Ten weeks ago, getting invited into camp was awesome and I have just tried to enjoy the moment as much as I can each week.

"The first thing he (Jones) said was to just be myself, and that's what I have tried to do and not tried to be anyone else.

"I spoke to my parents and girlfriend (after selection). They've been supporting me since the start of the journey, and they were overwhelmed with it.

"Dad is quite an emotional bloke, so he loved it."

There was a similar thrill for flanker Lewis Ludlam, one of  three members of Jones's squad for Japan who only made their international debuts during Sunday's opening 33-19 warm-up victory over Wales at Twickenham.

The impressive back-row received his cap just three years after playing his first senior match for Northampton. 

"It has been a bizarre few weeks, really," said the 23-year-old Ludlam. 

"I never really expected to be in camp for this long, and Sunday was a surreal experience for me.

"I haven't caught up with all my good luck messages yet. The phone has been going off constantly and I am just getting around to replying to everyone.

"I think I was watching (the 2015 World Cup) in the pub, so it's a surreal experience to be picked for this World Cup and be part of it," he added.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE