CAPTAIN Macauley Reynolds believes Cirencester College’s showing at the Rosslyn Park HSBC National Schools Sevens will go down as an experience they’re set to learn from, writes Jack McClusky.

Reynolds led out Cirencester’s only team in the U18 Open competition at the annual Rosslyn Park Sevens tournament, which was celebrating its 75th anniversary.

However, they were unable to mark it in style as they failed to progress beyond the initial group stage in South West London with four defeats from four.

At 18 years old it was Reynolds’ last Rosslyn Park Sevens appearance, but with a number of team-mates still around for next year, he’s adamant the experience will stand them in good stead.

“For most of us it was our first major sevens tournament and that showed in the results,” said skipper Reynolds.

“Most of my boys will be back next year so it was good for them to get a feel of what happens and hopefully they will come back a better team next time.

“It helps playing the better teams and we want to play some of the bigger teams to try and test ourselves.

“To go and play teams from all over the country is great. It is a totally different level but we really enjoyed the experience.”

Cirencester shared the Rosslyn Park pitches with more than 600 teams and, while results on the pitch did not go their way, they still managed to catch the eye of England scrum half Danny Care.

Care, who has won 47 caps for England and is an HSBC Ambassador for the Rosslyn Park Sevens, insists he saw plenty of talent on show.

“It’s an unbelievable tournament – the biggest schools tournament in the world – so it’s great for the kids from everywhere in the UK to come and there are also international teams as well,” said Care.

“The talent on show was really good, I did a few coaching clinics and the kids were good and keen to learn and listen. Hopefully, there were a few stars of tomorrow around. There were definitely a few fliers and star players around the pitches.”

England Rugby and former England Sevens player Danny Care was speaking on behalf of HSBC at the Rosslyn Park HSBC National Schools Sevens where he helped run HSBC coaching clinics for schools during the tournament. For more information visit www.rpns7.co.uk.