Meet the rugby star who stopped enjoying for 4 years – however is now up for a world award
Fin Lloyd-Gilmour was sidelined by a knee injury but is now nominated for a World Rugby award
Fin Lloyd-Gilmour in action for Great Britain vs France in the 2026 HSBC SVNS Hong Kong(Image: 2026 Zach Franzen)
Fin Lloyd-Gilmour was simply relieved to be back on a rugby pitch a year ago – now he has been shortlisted for a prestigious World Rugby award while playing alongside a British & Irish Lion.
In his first season with the GB sevens team, Lloyd-Gilmour thrived on the HSBC SVNS circuit, and was recognised as one of the three nominees for Men’s SVNS Rookie of the Year award. After making the select group in Bordeaux in the third leg of the World Championship events, he played alongside Scotland and Lions winger Darcy Graham. Both were on the scoresheet as GB stunned overall champions South Africa in the group stages on their way to qualification for the quarter-finals – with Lloyd-Gilmour clinching the win with an extra-time try.
It has been a whirlwind for the former Salisbury RFC youngster who was also part of the Bath youth set-up. Lloyd-Gilmour said: “It was a nice surprise to be nominated. The news came through when we were on the coach from Spain (the previous week GB played in Valladolid) into France, so one of the boys saw that the women’s nominations got posted and we crowded round the phones, just to see whether my name would pop up.
“It was an amazing surprise to be within that group of boys and be up for the awards. There was a big eruption from the boys on the back of the coach when that came through.
“I was just relieved to finally step on the pitch this season. I’d been in the GB set-up the year before but didn’t manage to get my first cap that year. So that made the first run-out in Singapore a lot sweeter and I didn’t take any moment for granted, which hopefully translates to what you see on the pitch.”
Lloyd-Gilmour’s path has been unlikely. His father was born in Papua New Guinea before spending much of his life in Queensland, Australia, even playing representative sevens for the Wallabies at Under-18s level. Despite being an Aussie through and through, he was cheering on GB when the two sides met at the end of May in Spain, Lloyd-Gilmour scoring a try in a narrow defeat to the eventual champions.
Beyond family ties, that support is also reward for remarkable resilience. Lloyd-Gilmour was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans at 17, a knee injury that kept him away from the game for four years partly also due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He explained: “I didn’t touch a ball for four years partially due to Covid and a backlog of surgeries. It took a while to get back. I went to Loughborough University and ended up playing there, it was a bit like (France lock) Thibaut Flament’s story, I was in the sixth team. I played about seven games tops over the course of my university career, partially due to Covid. I managed to get up to Loughborough Uni thirds.
“To go through the sort of prolonged wait for surgery and the rehabilitation phase, it made me realise the love I have for the game and how much I missed being on the pitch with your mates left and right of you. I was always dedicated to coming back and trying to play rugby in any shape or format. I’m glad I stuck at it and persevered, to get to where I am. I certainly didn’t have international rugby on the radar but it’s one of the many good surprises that have come from coming back.”
Lloyd-Gilmour and GB impressed in Bordeaux in reaching the quarterfinals where they were beaten by New Zealand, who made it all the way to the final only to lose to Olympic champions and hosts France. One of those New Zealanders, Kele Lasaqa, was rewarded with the Rookie of the Year crown ahead of Lloyd-Gilmour but simply making the top three capped off a remarkable debut season.
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said: “The HSBC SVNS Awards recognise the exceptional talent, commitment and performances that have defined another outstanding year of rugby sevens around the world.
“From season-long standout performers to exciting new players making their mark on the international stage, these nominees represent the very best of our sport.”
After 12 events across HSBC SVNS, SVNS 2 and SVNS 3, just one tournament remains in Bordeaux (5th-7th June) as excitement builds to a season-ending crescendo, after which the HSBC SVNS World Champions 2026 will be crowned. For more information, please visit www.svns.com . Fans in the UK can catch every match live on Rugby Pass.
