Commonwealth Games: Matt Gonzalez, NSW players in hunt for Australia’s rugby sevens gold

He’s 28, watched the Olympics from his garage last year and had pretty much given up on an elite career in his sport. Then this club rugby player got a phone call.

Eastwood speedster Matt Gonzales is one of numerous NSW players at the Games

This club rugby gun watched the Tokyo Olympic Sevens tournament from his garage, never imaging for a second he would be with them a year later chasing gold at the Commonwealth Games.

Known as one of the fastest men in Shute Shield rugby, Matt Gonzalez is now preparing to use his speed to blind at the Commonwealth Games where Australia is hunting for its first gold.

Matt Gonzaelez on the burst for Eastwood against the Two Blues in the Shute Shield.

The Eastwood rugby star said he was blindsides by a phone call earlier this year which changed the direction of his career and will see him make his Commonwealth Games debut at age 28.

“I didn’t think it was in the realm of possibility, I though my time with sevens had passed, didn’t think such an opportunity would come,” said the personal fitness trainer from Castle Hill.

“Then I got this phone call from John Manenti (Australian men’s coach) asking me if I’d like to trial and play Fiji ad New Zealand.

Matt Gonzalez scoring for Eastwood. Pic: Sergio Gonzalez

“I said yes straight away. I didn’t hesitate. I would have been made not to take it. I didn’t think an opportunity would ever arise for me again. I’m a bit older, I didn’t think it was going to happen.

“I couldn’t be prouder of myself to be able to go there and represent my country.”

Gonzales has overcome a series of quad injuries which have hampered his playing career over the years.

Maurice Longbottom gets past Trael Joass from the All Blacks Sevens.

Hard work to improve his running technique and strength work in the gum have given him the ability to get back on the field, and in the case of the sevens game, flourish.

NSW players dominate the team chasing gold with Tokyo Olympians Henry Paterson, 25, and Maurice Longbottom, 27, senior members.

Making their Commonwealth Games debuts are Ben Dowling, 20, Gonzales, 28, Henry Hutchison, 25, Nathan Lawson 23, Benn Mahh, 24, Mark Nawaqanitawase, 21, Dietrich Roache, 20, and Joshua Turner, 26.

Rugby Sevens, which kicks off on Friday in the UK, made its debut at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur with a women’s tournament held for the first time on the Gold Coast in 2018.

Gold medals have proved elusive with Australia winning two silver and two bronze medals.

NSW PLAYERS IN AUSTRALIAN SEVENS AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Ben Dowling, 20, Debut, Born Randwick, Lives Willoughby

Matthew Gonzalez, 28, Debut, Born Baulkham Hills, Lives Castle Hill.

Henry Hutchison, 25, Born Crows Nest, lives Cremorne.

Nathan Lawson, 23, Debut, Born Caringbah, lives Burraneer.

Maurice Longbottom, 27, 2nd (2018 – 5th), Born Gosford, lives Maroubra.

Ben Marr, 24, Debut, Born Manly, lives Dee Why

Mark Nawaqanitawase, 21, Debut, Born Kogarah, lives Carlingford.

Henry Paterson, 25, Debut, born Darlinghurst, lives Woollahra.

Dietrich Roache, 21, Debut, Born Campsie, Lives Merrylands

Joshua Turner, 26, Debut, Born New Zealand, Lives Collaroy.