En Route to Paris: Maurice Longbottom reveals superstitions ahead of Paris Olympics

Australian rugby sevens star Maurice Longbottom has revealed all about his “weird” superstitions and opened up on the upcoming Olympics campaign in the latest episode of En Route to Paris.

Rugby player Maurice Longbottom revealed all about his “weird” superstitions in the latest En Route to Paris podcast. Picture: Supplied

Sevens star Maurice Longbottom has opened up on his “weird” superstitions on the eve of the Paris Olympics.

One of Australia’s key players for a medal tilt at the Games, Longbottom is a proud Indigenous man and revealed that native designed undies are part of his match routine.

“I’ve got a couple of [superstitions], I’m a bit weird, I have to have indigenous budgies on for every game,” Longbottom told the En Route To Paris podcast.

“I carry set of three that I cycle through.”

Maurice Longbottom of Australia runs the ball during the 2024 Perth SVNS men's match between USA and Australia at HBF Park on January 27, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Longbottom also has special Indigenous designed boots he wears for major tournaments, and has had some new pairs painted for Paris. But unlike the undies he recycles, the boots will be abandoned if he performs poorly.

“If I play bad in a pair of boots I generally won’t use those pair of boots again,” Longbottom told the En Route To Paris podcast.

“I travel with a couple pairs.

“And because I’m super nervous before a game, I like to run out and sweep my hands across the grass. I do it every game, it’s just a little keynote for me just to send myself, bring myself back down to earth and just reconnect myself back to the time.”

The 29-year-old also sports several tattoos, but Longbottom said there are no elaborate tales behind them.

“There’s not many that tell a story, I’ve got my sister’s name, my mum’s name,” he said.

“They’re just a couple nice tattoos that I thought I’d like. I’ve got that one that says Longy, which is something that all the boys in my family have. It’s just something they started back in the day, and all the boys in our family have had Longy tattooed on them somewhere. And that’s something that we just keep going through the family.

“Even on my strapping tape when I strap my wrist in and I write ‘Family’ just on the inside of my wrist, just so if anything is tough on the field I know I can always look down and know that they’re always there.

“They’re massive to me. It’s like my safe haven.”

Originally published as En Route to Paris: Maurice Longbottom reveals superstitions ahead of Paris Olympics