The"Polar Bear" talks 7's Rugby: An Interview with Matt Hawkins

The"Polar Bear" talks 7's Rugby:

An Interview with Matt Hawkins
written by Vincent McLeod IV  (Part 2 on 7's Rugby Series)

John Cena has been dubbed the most fierce and intimidating force in the ring, but the nicest man over a beer; Rugby now has a John Cena!  Few Rugby fans and players in SoCal can understand what it is like growing up in Durban, South Africa and learning to play Rugby from our Father in the backyard.  Even fewer can say they have excelled on the USA 7's National Team.  In the end though, only one of us can be the most recognizable player (outside of Todd Clever in 15's) on the 7's circuit today; the Polar Bear himself, Mr. Matt Hawkins.  SCRN recently talked with Matt about 7's Rugby in the area and its future.



 Matt Hawkins Interview:

SCRN:  7's play is clearly growing in the region (and America for that matter).  As you are aware, the SoCal region has the two qualifiers, with all other tourney's being individually run.  Some teams have complained as to the fairness in this, while others highlight the injury prevention argument that playing two big tourney's decreases "season-long" injuries.  What would a 7's circuit in SoCal look like?  Is this a good or bad concept for the area? 

 MH:  I think a circuit type environment is best. We are trying to create constancy the whole way through, from club rugby to the National Team. To be very honest I am not sure what would be the best way to go about it, but it seems that many people here in the region believe we need to develop some thing that becomes a show case all summer long. I believe that the people we have working on it will get it right eventually, we just have to have patience until that point.

SCRN:  You have been attached with Belmont for their National Championship run in 2011.  What did Belmont do, outside of quality of play, to get themselves this big achievement?  What does the team have above all the others?

 MH:  I think the biggest thing that Belmont has had for a few years now, is they create a great team environment with all players and coaches having the same goal and all of them working in a synchronized effort toward attaining that goal.  This year the guys just really seemed to have an awesome team chemistry and I was just really lucky to have been part of it.

SCRN:  Do you think teams are ready to produce athletes (like Ben Gollings) that are purely 7's players for a club?  Is this a realistic vision for SoCal clubs?  Does it really matter if we continue to pull from 15's squads?

MH:  I think it is a realistic goal and I do believe that sevens is going to be the best way to take Rugby in this country to the next level. There is just so much changing and the environment we have here in Socal is perfect for a sevens athlete. We just need to start providing more platforms for people to be doing it for longer periods of time, not just over the summer.

SCRN:  Obviously, being dubbed the "Polar Bear" by the USAR fan base in Rugby Sevens, you are a massive icon of the game in America.  What advice can you give to people looking to make it big like yourself in Rugby?

MH:  Appreciate the kind words. I think you have to realize that in life there are always going to be obstacles no matter what you plan to do or what your goal is and as long as your focused, driven and dedicated enough to put yourself in the best position to succeed then you will get those opportunities and it is then up to you to take those opportunities.  But know and understand that your never to young or to old to have a dream.