Campese and Ella boost for Australia Sevens

[(IRB.COM) Friday 14 March 2008] ：

Ten years ago David Campese was playing for Australia in the Hong Kong Sevens

Wallaby legends David Campese and Mark Ella have given the Australian Sevens team a boost ahead of the next two legs of the IRB Sevens World Series by accepting assistant coaching roles in Hong Kong and Adelaide.

Campese will take up his first official coaching role with an Australian side at the Hong Kong Sevens where he will assist coach Bill Millard, while Ella will join up with the pair when the squad returns home for the sixth round of the Series at the Adelaide Oval on 5/6 April.

"This is like a dream for me," admitted Campese. "I've always wanted the opportunity to be involved again with Australian Rugby and to help out in Hong Kong - a place that has so many memories for me after playing Sevens there for more than a decade - is an honour.

"It's great to be involved for the first time in a coaching capacity with Australian Rugby. I feel I can make a contribution. To help these guys and promote the Sevens. I'm taking the role extremely seriously. For the younger players in the squad, Sevens is a genuine step on a path that hopefully leads them to Wallabies selection. I'm excited to have the chance to help these guys achieve that goal."

Ella himself is certainly no stranger to Sevens, having previously coached Australia at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while his twin brother Glen guided the country to seventh place in the 2006/07 IRB Sevens World Series.

Welcome surprise for Ella

"I'm really looking forward to being involved again. It's a long time since I've had a direct connection with Australian Rugby, so the invitation to help out in Adelaide came as a very pleasant surprise," admitted Ella, the former Wallaby captain who played 25 Tests from 1980 to 1984.

"Like Campo I feel there is an opportunity to assist in the area of skills coaching. Helping to promote the game and Sevens in particular is also appealing to me."

Campese, the first Australian to reach a century of Test caps, and former team-mate Ella will also serve as Australian Rugby Union ambassadors during the International Rugby Sevens Adelaide, which is likely to attract an audience of more than 30,000 fans over two days at the Adelaide Oval.

"It's wonderful to have these two icons of Australian Rugby back in the fold," ARU Managing Director and CEO John O'Neill said. "David and Mark are two of the greatest players this country have produced. The skills they possessed set them apart during their illustrious on-field careers. Now they have the chance to impart some of that unique store of knowledge to the current generation.

Millard excited by rugby icons

"It is also an opportunity to tap into their thoughts. I'm sure the assistance they will offer Bill Millard will be rewarding for all involved, and especially for the developing stars of tomorrow that are part of our Sevens programme."

Australia currently lie ninth in the standings at the halfway stage of the 2007/08 Series, their best result having been a semi-final appearance at the New Zealand International Sevens Wellington last month, but Millard is eager to work with both Campese and Ella.

"I'm looking forward to it and so are the boys. David and Mark are rugby icons. They will give the Sevens a great profile. I'm really excited to have them on board."

Australia will face Tonga, France and the host nation in Pool E at the Hong Kong Sevens from 28-30 March, while South Africa, USA and Canada await them in Pool C in Adelaide.

Tickets for the 2008 International Rugby Sevens Adelaide are currently on sale and with tickets starting from just $25.00 for adults and $60.00 for families, sports fans, event-lovers and families alike have the chance to join in the party.

-END-