Australian Sevens playmaker Hayden Sargeant is ready to step up and guide the men's side in their quest for a maiden podium finish in Paris.
The 26-year-old will head to his first Olympics after slowly emerging as a vital player in John Manenti's squad.
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Sargeant originally arrived on the radar after his selection in the Junior Wallabies in 2018, having impressed for the Melbourne Rebels U20s.
During COVID, he would link up with the Sevens program on a development deal as Manenti searched for further spark with a limited full-time squad.
Sargeant's persistence saw him selected for LA in 2023 with the goal of an Olympics firmly on his mind.
“I tried not to think about (the Olympics) too much at the start, I was probably more worried about how I was playing each week and how I was training being a newcomer," Sargeant told Rugby.com.au
“It was definitely in the back of my mind and as it got closer and closer, the more it grew upon me.”
Since then, Sargeant hasn't looked back and has slowly taken on further responsibility as a playmaker in the squad.
In Singapore, the Bond flyer executed the perfect play to put Nick Malouf over for the extra-time winner during the quarter-final against South Africa.
Sargeant drifted across and attracted a trio of defenders before a sharp cutback and pass put the captain into a gaping hole as he slammed the ball down.
He concedes it's taken some time to feel comfortable on the international stage, praising the work of Maurice Longbottom in bringing the best out of his game.
“I guess the hardest part is getting everyone’s trust to back your call and believing in the decisions that you put out there," Sargeant admits.
“So it’s really only been the last few tournaments where I felt most comfortable.
“…Having some like Moz, he’s been so hopeful since I’ve come down and we sit together after training and pick out things we can both do differently to try and improve each other’s game. Having Moz around has been huge along with Matt (Gonzalez), it’s really helped me feel comfortable.”
Plays like his chip and chase try against Great Britain show the confidence of Sargeant and the squad despite their lack of title success in 2023-24.
It reflects their battles with consistency, with Sargeant adamant they are primed to put it all together in Paris.
“Without a doubt we’re confident we can take it out and I don’t think we’d be going otherwise," he asserted.
“We’ve probably just struggled to put together six good games. We’ve had four or five but if we can put together the six that matter we’ve got no doubt we’ll go out and do our country proud.
“This year has really given us a good prep to go and leave no stone unturned and come out on that last day firing."
