New rugby sevens skipper named after coward punch to James Stannard

The captaincy of the men’s sevens rugby team has been handed on after a coward punch ended James Stannard’s run.

New Australian rugby sevens captain Jesse Parahi. Picture: AAP

Team veteran Jesse Parahi has accepted the ill-starred captaincy of the Australian men’s sevens rugby team for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

He has inherited the role from James Stannard who was ruled out of the Games after being coward-punched early on Good Friday after attending a farewell dinner for departing coach Andy Friend. And Stannard himself had been named as interim captain only when playmaker Lewis Holland was scrubbed from the Games because of a hamstring injury.

It might appear to some a poisoned chalice, but Parahi has accepted the captaincy with great humility, Friend said.

“He very aware that his opportunity to lead has come about due to the misfortune of both Lewis and James but this does not diminish his own leadership qualities and standing with the team,” Friend said today.

“He is a man of outstanding character and I know that he will lead this team with great energy at the Commonwealth Games.”

Parahi, who will win his 40th sevens cap when he runs out to compete on the final weekend of the Games, admitted it was “a strange feeling” to take over the captaincy under such circumstances.

“For us as a team there’s a real sense that we want to do it for James, who would have been playing in his third Commonwealth Games. This adversity has bonded us closer together and we’ll rise to the challenge in front of a home crowd.”

“This adversity has bonded us closer together and we’ll rise to the challenge when we run out on the Gold Coast in front of a home crowd.”

Australia will face Samoa, Jamaica and England in its preliminary round matches, starting on April 14. Australia’s second string side is competing this weekend in the Hong Kong Sevens and afterwards Friend intends to name a 13th player to cover any injuries on day one of the Commonwealth Games.