ANOTHER former student of The Grange will be in Tokyo to take part in the Olympic Games.

Weaverham’s Will Broderick, a former scrum-half at Winnington Park, joins rowing siblings Tom and Emily Ford in flying the flag for the school later this month.

Although Broderick rowed in a crew at the Henley Regatta alongside Tom when studying at The Grange, his Olympics selection comes in rugby and not for Team GB – as coach of the Brazilian women’s 7s squad.

The 28-year-old former Sale Sharks community coach flew out to Japan from Sao Paulo at the end of last week and went straight into a training camp with his players to complete preparations for the tournament of a lifetime.

Broderick played rugby from the age of five at both school and Winnington Park, gaining county honours along the way.

After school he spent some time in New Zealand as a gap student, coaching rowing and rugby.

He returned to The Grange to coach and it was then he was recruited as a community coach by Sale Sharks.

And then his life took a new twist, as his mum Barbara explained.

“While at Sale, Will got the opportunity to apply for a position with the Try Rugby programme which sent UK coaches to other countries to develop the game,” she said.

“And so aged just 20 Will headed off to Brazil.”

There he made his mark both as a player and coach.

“While working in schools, Will found a club to play for. Gradually he became fluent in Brazilian Portuguese and eventually moved to run an independent rugby programme,” said Barbara.

“He then was offered a place in the Brazil men’s rugby squad where he gained seven international caps.

“At this point he was also coaching a women’s 7s team at his club, taking them to become South American champions.

“Due to injury Will had to stop playing for Brazil but became a member of staff involved in some coaching and video analysis.

“Last August after a reorganisation of the CBRU (Brazilian Rugby Union) he was offered the position of head coach for the Brazil women’s rugby squad who are involved in the World 7s Series and are Olympic qualifiers.

“Due to Covid, things have been difficult, however the squad have managed to play in Dubai and in the USA.”

After the Olympics, Will hopes to return home for a well earned rest before the World Series recommences and the South American Championship begins.