London Scottish skipper Mark Bright’s outstanding season and remarkable try scoring exploits have been rewarded further this week after the number eight was called up to the England Sevens squad ahead of this summer’s Commonwealth Games.
The 35-year-old forward will be loaned to the RFU for a two-month period as England target the podium at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
In the build-up to Glasgow 2014, Bright will look to impress his former Director of Rugby at London Scottish and now England Sevens head coach Simon Amor during the summer FIRA-AER European GP Sevens series which begins on Saturday in Lyon.
A talismanic leader for his club, Bright scored 21 tries in 28 games last season which saw him shortlisted for the Championship Player of the Year Award.
He also scooped the Caledonia Best Taste of Scotland Supporters' Player of the Year Award at the Club’s End of Season Dinner.
Bright, who is sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management, moved over to England ten years ago from New Zealand and is thrilled about the prospect of pulling on the red rose for his adopted country.
“I will be really proud and honoured to wear the England jersey,” he said.
“It will be a career highlight and a massive thing for me at the tail end of my career.
“I was a bit shocked when I first heard about this opportunity.
“I know I have got a lot of hard work to do to force my way into the Commonwealth Games squad but I look forward to that challenge.”
Simon Amor said: “I am delighted that London Scottish have agreed to release Mark Bright to train with the England Sevens programme over the next two months and compete for a place in the squad for the Commonwealth Games.
“The Greene King IPA Championship is consistently producing talented players and Mark has for a number of seasons been a standout performer.
“He has regularly captained the Samurai International Sevens team to success and his ball carrying ability and physicality in the breakdown is well known and will add another dimension to our game.”
London Scottish coach Mike Friday, who has coached both England and Kenya on the IRB World Sevens circuit said: “It is full credit to Brighty both as a rugby player and a bloke that he has earned this recognition and it is well deserved.
“I have worked with him on the invitational Sevens circuit for a good five years now and he has had great success.
“He is a real physical presence in the contact area and his fantastic aerial, offloading and decision making skills can cause problems for any Sevens defence.”
Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “I was personally really pleased to hear that Mark will be released from London Scottish to join the England Sevens set up this summer because the opportunity to play in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is truly a great one.
“Everyone at Aberdeen Asset Management wishes him the very best of luck with the selection process.”
You can watch Mark Bright's England debut at the Lyon 7s live online tomorrow from 8am here when England take on Belgium.
