Rugby sevens players are some of the fittest athletes in the world, but how do they train to ensure peak performance during tournaments? Of the squad of almost 20 men, just four have so far been contracted by Premiership clubs – the most high profile being World Series all-time highest try scorer Dan Norton, who signed a short-term deal with London Irish. It was expected the bulk of both squads would be made up of English players. It is understood to that the England rugby sevens programmes cost the RFU £2million a year to run. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. England Both England men and women qualified to take part in the 2020 Olympics on behalf of Team GB, with Scottish and Welsh players due to join in the build-up as they did for the 2016 Rio Games, when the men won silver and women came fourth. When the RFU made the decision to cut the rugby sevens programmes last month, players lost their only source of funding, causing them to seek alternative sources of revenue to aid their preparations. Please review our, You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Follow the England rugby sevens squads’ journey to Tokyo on Twitter @Engrugby7s. The English women's national rugby sevens team has been competing in the Hong Kong Women's Sevens tournaments since 1997. These players, however, will not be paid as professionals and many will be balancing full and part-time jobs. Players have taken it upon themselves to launch campaigns across social media to make rugby fans aware of their plight. The RFU are in talks with UK Sport and World Rugby about how to fund the GB team in the build-up to and during the Tokyo Olympics next summer. England men and women’s rugby sevens players are launching a crowdfunding initiative to help them in their preparation towards the Tokyo Olympics, after they were made redundant by the Rugby Football Union last month. England men and women’s rugby sevens players are launching a crowdfunding initiative to help them in their preparation towards the Tokyo Olympics, after they were made redundant by … A large number of the women’s squad have signed with Premier15s sides in order to keep playing rugby, but it is understood clubs are willing to release players so they can take part in a truncated 2021 World Series leading up to Tokyo. Since being told at the start of August that they would be made redundant and the professional programmes would be scrapped, players have been scrambling for employment in order to support their Olympic dreams while trying to keep in competitive shape. Find out more, The latest offers and discount codes from popular brands on Telegraph Voucher Codes, England's rugby sevens players have been seeking other employment, Sarah and Charlie Beckett interview: 'She is a better rugby player than me - I can't say how proud I am', Transgender women should not play elite women's rugby, says world governing body, Duncan Hodge under no illusions as to size of task facing his Edinburgh side at Munster, How Exeter Chiefs navigated their way through the longest season ever, Gallagher Premiership 2019-20 season review: Northampton Saints, Swing Low Sweet Chariot has had its day and the RFU should have banned it, after they were made redundant by the Rugby Football Union last month, players have been scrambling for employment in order to support their Olympic dreams, the most high profile being World Series all-time highest try scorer Dan Norton. England men and women's rugby seven players were made redundant in August. The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Will Muir followed in the footsteps of Premiership wing Ruaridh McConnochie - who started his career in sevens - in signing for Bath. Ben Harris signed with Saracens on an academy deal, before scoring on his Premiership debut against Gloucester last month.

The England national rugby sevens team competes in the World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.

Unlike the majority of other Olympic sports, rugby sevens does not receive long-term funding from UK Sport.

According to a report published by The Telegraph, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) informed England men's and women's teams that their contracts would not be renewed at the end of the month. A spokesperson for the RFU said: "We have approached UK Sport for funding and are exploring the option for a Team GB sevens team. England women's sevens squad for Dubai England Women Sevens coach Charlie Hayter has named his squad for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai (5-7 December).