‘I wasn’t that good’: How Corey Toole went from Tokyo training mate to Paris Games teammate

He never made schoolboy teams or national sides until a random opportunity but this electric winger is now one of seven debutants ready to run out for Australia in Paris.

Australia's Corey Toole on the burst against Kenya. Picture: AFP

When Corey Toole accepted an invitation to help prepare the Australian rugby sevens team for the Tokyo Olympics, it never occurred to him that three years later he would be one of them in Paris.

The speedster, who said rugby was a far better fit than AFL, which he played growing up in his hometown of Wagga, is part of a new-look sevens team that will be chasing a first Olympic medal.

“It’s quite strange really,” said the 24-year-old, who is one of seven debutants in the Australian men’s team.

“I missed out on selections, never made the schoolboy teams, sevens national teams. I saw younger kids than me getting contracts.

“Then I was with the Brumbies Academy and this opportunity came along. They just needed some boys from the academies to prep them (the Tokyo Australian Sevens team) for the Olympics because it was Covid and I got a run.

“I always had in the back of my head I wanted to do this but I wasn’t that good when I was younger.”

Corey Toole was always overlooked for national teams and selection. Picture: Patrick T. FALLON / AFP

The opportunity before Tokyo changed that when Toole, who was playing for the Gungahlin Eagles at the time, was rushed into the squad for a World Rugby series debut in 2021-22.

He finished the event as the second-highest tryscorer and recognised as one of the fastest in the game.

Toole made the Commonwealth Games team in 2022, signed with the Brumbies in 2023 and racked up nine tries in a stunning performance in the Super Rugby Pacific competition before making the Australia A squad.

After another standout Super Rugby season and speculation he was on the edge of a Wallabies selection, Toole is about to unleash his extraordinary speed in the Olympic arena.

“It’s going to be incredible,” said Toole, whose speed is one of his biggest assets despite having no great success in sprinting growing up.

Toole is in good company as a debutant.

Corey Toole’s Paris selection follows his Commonwealth Games 2022 appearance. Picture: Richard Heathcote/2022 Getty Images

Ben Dowling, Matt Gonzalez, fellow flyer and NRL-bound Mark Nawaqanitawase, Henry Paterson, Hayden Sargeant and James Turner will also be at their first Games.

Australia’s best efforts at the Olympics were quarter-finals in 2016 and 2021.

The men’s field appears to be wide open.

Two-time defending champion Fiji, in-form Argentina, France and New Zealand are also in the medal mix with Australia.

Australia plays Samoa in its first game at the Olympics two days before the opening ceremony, then Kenya and Argentina.

Australia men’s rugby sevens team:Nicholas Malouf (captain), Henry Hutchison, Ben Dowling, Matthew Gonzalez, Nathan Lawson, Maurice Longbottom, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Henry Paterson, Dietrich Roache, Hayden Sargeant, Corey Toole, James Turner. Reserves: Joshua Turner, Michael Icely.