Englishman Simon Amor was named the new U.S. men’s rugby sevens head coach as the program looks toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“Inspired by the Women’s Eagles Sevens (bronze medal) team in Paris, our ultimate goal is to medal at LA 2028 with our first step targeting the top eight of an incredibly competitive HSBC World SVNS Series this year,” Amor said in a press release. “With only a few weeks until (the first series leg in) Dubai, alongside the retirement of some great players who have been the backbone of the team for many years, we know the challenge is high. However, having seen the players in the pathway, so undoubtedly is our potential.”
Amor, 45, previously coached the Japanese men to a 12th-place finish in the 12-team Paris Olympic tournament and Great Britain to men’s silver at rugby sevens’ Olympic debut in Rio in 2016.
He was World Rugby men’s sevens Player of the Year in 2004.
Amor succeeds Mike Friday, who stepped down after the Paris Olympics after 10 years as U.S. head coach.
Amor played for Friday on the English national team in the 2000s. Friday once described Amor’s acumen as a player as “a pocket computer.”
Under Friday, the U.S. men finished ninth, sixth and eighth in the first three Olympic rugby sevens tournaments in Rio, Tokyo and Paris.
The top U.S. player over the last decade, 2017 and 2018 World Player of the Year Perry Baker, announced before the Paris Olympics that he planned to retire after the Games.
