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Isles will be back on the sevens circuit with the US. Kin Cheung
code hopper

'World's fastest rugby player' Isles leaves union to focus on Olympic 7s

The American speedster failed to make a senior appearance for the Glasgow Warriors.

CARLIN ISLES, WHO has been dubbed ‘the fastest man in rugby’, has left the Glasgow Warriors to focus on earning selection for the Olympic 7s, just over four months after joining the Scottish club.

The American, who has been clocked at 10.13 second over 100 metres, signed for the Warriors in February, having previously stood out on the sevens circuit for the US. Originally a sprinter, it was hoped Isles could adapt to the 15-a-side code swiftly.

However, the 24-year-old has left Glasgow without making a single senior match-day squad, although he did line out for the club in the victorious campaign at the Melrose 7s in April.

The Ohio native is now set to return to the US, where he will focus again on the seven-man rugby code, targeting a place in the national squad for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

I’d like to thank Glasgow Warriors for giving me the opportunity to train with them over the last few months,” says Isles. “I’ve learnt so much from the experience and made some really good friends.

“However, I want to focus on 7s and if I work hard, hopefully I can be part of the USA 7s squad at the Summer Olympics in 2016.”

TenOutOfTen / YouTube

There was some scepticism around Isles’ foray into union when his move to Glasgow was announced in February, with doubts around his relative lack of contact, handling, positional, tackling and communication skills balancing excitement about his pace.

Despite the lack of success, Warriors’ head coach Gregor Townsend thanked Isles for his efforts at the Pro12 club, wishing the American well on his return to full-time sevens.

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