By Pete Fairbairn – RUPA

James ‘Chucky’ Stannard (33) and Pat ‘Cutch’ McCutcheon (29) won’t mind if I say they’re no spring chickens (in Rugby terms).

These two stalwarts of the Australian Rugby scene have been around for as long as I can remember, whether on the Rugby Sevens circuit or playing in the Shute Shield or Super Rugby (where they each boast over 30 caps) competitions.

Last month, they were both named in the Men’s Rugby Sevens squad to represent Australia at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. It represents the sport’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 1924, when the USA won gold and then had to defend themselves against a pitch invasion from unhappy French supporters.

On October 9, 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the return of the sport for both men and women in 2016 as Rugby Sevens. Just 131 days before that, on May 31st 2009, Stannard and McCutcheon played alongside each other for the first time at the Edinburgh Rugby Sevens.

The world’s a different place today than it was back then, so we thought we’d take the time to sit down with the lads and discuss the changes to the Rugby Sevens program, as well as find out a bit more about what perks come with being an elder statesman in the squad and what going to Rio means to them.

Pete Fairbairn: Lads, thanks very much for your time. Firstly, I just want you to talk me through when you first started earning a quid to play footy; that must have been a pretty amazing feeling, to be paid to do what you love?

James Stannard: For me, earning loot and playing Rugby was great, but I didn’t really care about the money; I just wanted to play professional Rugby. I originally wanted to play for the Dragons in the NRL, but then I got a chance in Perth where I wasn’t on much (at the Western Force), and I felt like I was getting flogged for next to nothing, but it was great. I loved it and it was better than working, that’s for sure.

Pat McCutcheon: Yeah, I don’t think it’s ever really been about money. I was fortunate enough to play Rugby Sevens for Australia for the first time in around 2007, and the Coach (Billy Millard) told me never to play Sevens again; he thought I was rubbish, so it’s a big 360 I’ve done where the opportunity has come around to re-join the program. I still don’t think of it as a job, it’s more of a lifestyle, but playing footy and going on tour with your mates is awesome.

PF: What was the Rugby Sevens program like 10 years ago?

PM: I got invited on my first leg through being picked from Club footy. We did a week’s training at the AIS, and my first tour saw me grab my little Country Road bag and head off to Dubai! There was nothing professional about it.

JS: I originally said no to Sevens because you have to be so fit, but I got invited to Edinburgh regardless in 2009 and it was an unbelievable experience.

PM: That’s the first time we played together.

JS: It is, that’s the first time I met you, Cutch! That was a great experience, and then we played at Twickenham which I loved, and it was a great introduction to Sevens. Even back then though it wasn’t as serious as it is now in regards to fitness and nutrition, it was more have a few beers with your mates and play footy; play hard, party hard! These days, the cultures in squads now are very different and everything is a lot more results-driven.

PF: In 2009, it was announced that Rugby Sevens was going to be an Olympic sport in 2016. What were you up to at that stage of your lives and did you think you were any chance to feature at Rio?

PM: Mate, I was mowing lawns for Mosman Mowing. I’d train at the Waratahs either in the morning before work or in the late afternoon, and then I would do my gym stuff at Sydney Uni in the evening and play Club footy. It definitely wasn’t even on the radar, I thought it was too far away for me to even worry.

JS: I was in Canberra trying to convince (current Men’s Sevens Head Coach) Andy Friend to give me a game for the Brumbies! I remember somebody saying it was going to be in the Olympics but my initial thoughts were that if I was still around then the squad will be in a bit of trouble, but as it is the body’s held up really well.

PF: You’re two of the three ‘old bulls’ in the squad, along with Ed Jenkins (EJ). What type of entitlements does that give you in the sheds?

JS: I think young blokes like Rocky (Henry Hutchison) actually get away with more than us, to be honest; he’s always pulling out of training sessions and saying there’s something wrong with him, he’s a bit precious.

PM: Yeah I’d agree with that! Us older blokes have done years and years of training and we’re rock solid physically; nothing breaks down.

PF: Do you pull rank when it becomes time to turn the speakers on and play some tunes?

JS: When it comes to music, there’s basically EJ’s (Ed Jenkins) opinion and then everybody else’s! Cutch and I each bought a set of speakers and we are the only ones who can put our phones on. There’s a lot of country music…

PM: A lot of Alan Jackson and Toby Keith!

PF: And do the other boys in the squad like it?

PM: They learn to like it!

JS: Allan (Fa’alava’au) loves the country music, I’ve noticed he’s been downloading a lot on his iTunes and I think most people have come on board!

PF: One of the major differences from when you first started playing Sevens are the families you leave behind when you go on tour. Chuck, you’ve got twin girls, and Pat you’ve got a first baby on the way; are you spending more time and money on the phone back to Australia than you were 6 or 7 years ago?

JS: Kim would never get a text back then in the two weeks we were away, and now it’s every day and demanding photos from one another, especially now the girls are getting bigger and they’re actually doing stuff, they’re not just babies. I make sure we skype a fair bit.

PM: Skye is happy with a text every couple of days to make sure I’m alive!

PF: What other sports are you going to make sure you get along and see in Rio?

JS: Beach volleyball; I just appreciate getting my feet in the sand and love having the sun on my back! I’m definitely going to try and see my cousin Melissa Wu diving, and I’ll try to get to the velodrome because I enjoyed that when we were at the Commonwealth Games.

PM: Watching Anna Meares smash it, and I’m hoping it’s a bit different to the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010 because it wasn’t easy to get around. We’d get on the bus there and see a bloke holding an AK47; I’m hoping Rio is a bit more relaxed than that!

PF: Chuck, if Cutch was competing in any other Olympic sport what would it be?

JS: He’d have to be in gymnastics mate, with the ribbons; you should see him dance, it’s similar.

PM: Everybody has an artistic streak in them and a little bit of creativity mate…

JS: Either that or just a really bad looking freestyle stroke…

PM: I reckon I’d give Eric the Eel a run for his money, he’d probably have me beat!

PF: Lads, post-Olympics. Have you thought that far ahead in regards to your Rugby careers moving forward?

JS: I like to take each year as it comes now. If my body is feeling good I’ll go again, but I don’t want to get to a stage where I am letting guys down on the field. I definitely want to keep going for one more year, but going on to the next Commonwealth Games might be a bit of a stretch. I want to start concentrating on coaching Rugby Sevens and passing on my knowledge to the young guys coming through as well, and staying within the system that way if I can.

PM: I haven’t thought past Rio much either. Coaching is a good way to give back to the game, but overall I think we’d all like to keep playing as long as we can. The old man keeps asking when I’ll come back to the farm as well and I keep telling him “just one more year”; he might get jack of that soon!

PF: Lads, just finally, we’ve had a bit of a laugh today and talked about the journey but today must be an incredibly proud moment for both of you as professional athletes.

PM: It is special. Olympics and Rugby don’t usually get spoken in the same sentences. To be part of such a global event with so many different athletes and sports, and to be part of the Olympic team, it’s definitely very special.

JS: If we’re successful, we can really put Rugby Sevens on the map through the Olympics. After all the hard work we’ve done, it feels good to have made the team and to go away and represent the country in Rio.

This interview was conducted as part of a collaboration between Rugby News and The Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA), designed to help the Australian Rugby public get to know some of the newer professional stars of our game who have graduated from Club Rugby. For more information on RUPA and the services they offer, click here.