England 7s star Norton itching for Singapore return
Rio Sevens' silver medallist Norton reveals plan to overhaul try record
He was one of the main attacking weapons for England in the Singapore leg of the Sevens World Series held at the National Stadium in April, the team reaching the Bowl semi-finals before losing to arch-rivals Scotland.
Winger Daniel John Norton described the experience here as spectacular and he cannot wait to return for next year's HSBC World Rugby Singapore Sevens, this time as an Olympic silver medallist.
"The National Stadium was amazing, it was quite different, with the roof on but, in a way, still kind of outdoors," he recalled, yesterday.
"I'm excited trying to get scores and getting out in the sun, it's amazing to be here, away from cold and wet England."
The 28-year-old was invited by UFIT Urban Fitness (UFIT) and will be here until Friday.
RUGBY CAMP
Norton will be at the Australian International School for a five-day rugby camp as a guest coach to students aged eight to 14.
He enjoyed a wonderful summer, although not quite the golden finish, after representing Great Britain at the Rio Games as rugby returned to the Olympics after 92 years.
Great Britain went all the way to the final, where they lined up against the mighty Fijians, regarded as the greatest Sevens-playing nation in the history of the game.
In the end, Norton and Co. had no answer to the rampaging Fijians, who roared to the gold medal with a 43-7 triumph.
Said Norton: "Unfortunately, it's one of those things where we look back and we will say yes, they were the better team that day."
He will forever be grateful for the Olympic experience, even as he eyes another tilt at gold in Tokyo 2020.
"I never thought I would make it to the Olympics and experience the magic," he said.
"It was an amazing achievement just to get selected (for the Olympics), out of 27 other Great Britain guys."
The 1.82m-tall Englishman found it to be a dream to be living with athletes he had grown up watching.
"You walk out the Athletes' Village, you see Andy Murray. You're sharing a lift with Mo-Farah. You go into the food hall and you can see Usain Bolt.
"You get to go around Brazil, to Copacabana Beach (and) have a few beers on the beach, it was pretty amazing.
"It was a dream come true to be with Team Great Britain. You go in, there you're wearing a different kit, a different badge."
So far, Norton has amassed 210 tries overall in the International Rugby Board Sevens Series.
His most prolific season was during the 2012-13 IRB Sevens World Series, when he scored 52 tries.
He has set his sights on overtaking 29-year-old Kenyan star Collins Injera, who holds the record of 235 tries.
"That's kind of my goal this year, to try and catch Collins," said the English star.
"He's getting older, but he's still scoring tries in every tournament. It would be amazing to catch Collins.
"It's going to be a nice battle between the two of us.
"Have to keep scoring and getting myself out there. There's still a long way to go, to be honest."
SINGAPORE LEG
If all goes well, both will be back here in April 2017 for the Singapore leg of the World Sevens Series.
Injera will be part of a Kenyan team that will defend their title here, after storming to victory at the National Stadium this year with a resounding triumph over Fiji.
Norton knows the Kenyans and Fijians will be strong, and revealed the English are already two weeks into preparations for the upcoming season.
He said: "We are trying to be the best team in the world.
"That's what all teams are striving for and that's what we're definitely striving for too, to be the best team and to do our best for English rugby."
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