How a few beers with mates led to an Australian 7s contract for Ben O’Donnell

When Ben O’Donnell took up an invitation to head away for a weekend and play rugby with his mates at the University Games last year, a professional Sevens contract was the furthest thing from his mind. “I’d just got back to Australia after playing a season in Spain, so Uni Games was really just an excuse to catch up with my mates who I hadn't seen for a while,” O’Donnell said. “To be honest, I was more excited about having a few beers with them then anything else but it’s funny how things work out.” O’Donnell starred in the amateur tournament and was selected to play in the Australian Universities side at an upcoming National tournament in Adelaide. “That’s where Friendy (Australian coach Andy Friend) saw me and he asked if I wanted to come and train with the squad and it all sort of went from there.” “One of the first things he said to me was that it can all happen pretty quickly. He said Sevens was a different game to XVs and everything happen
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