Con Foley is nicknamed Diesel because he just keeps keeping on and one of the more underrated Aussie Sevens players will join an elite group this weekend, when he reaches his 40th World Series cap.
Foley, 23, will become just the second Australian player to reach the feat, behind captain Ed Jenkins, five years after his Gold Coast debut.
He will be achieving the milestone at one of his favourite tournaments, the oldest one on the circuit and one that consistently produces a packed house.
Foley said the milestone wasn’t at the front of his mind, with Rio on the horizon.
“It’s something you don’t really think about,” he said.
Ed Jenkins achieved that feat not long ago and to be able to follow in his footsteps and achieve the same thing is pretty humbling.
The Queenslander is one of the current squad who has ridden the rollercoaster of the past few seasons and are now starting to reap the rewards, with one of the side’s best starts to a season in its history.
“It’s been a very long winded effort, that (journey),” he said.
“We’ve been building this squad for the last four or five years and these young guys are starting to get a bit older and the fruits of that labour are starting to really show.
“We’re on the right to achieve that end goal of the Olympics and do really well so this is an important season to slowly build up to that and hopefully we can achieve a good result.
Jenkins, who has been Foley’s captain for much of his Sevens career and one of his strongest influences, was full of praise for the man who will join him in the record books.
The 29-year-old has seen Foley mature as a player and a leader in his time in the Aussie Sevens fold.
“He’s got a nickname Diesel – he just keeps going!”
“He’s pretty impressive. He’s been with us for five or six years now so one of the senior players now in this team and to reach 40 caps on the ws is a tremendous effort.
“He’s got a stronghold on that hooker position in our team and he’s a great ball carrier so he offers a lot of variety throughout our team which is much needed and he just keeps getting better with age.
“He’s led some of the younger guys around and he’s very impressive off the field.”
Foley hopes he can pass on play a similar leading role to the next generation, with a band of youngsters coming through the program now.
“I suppose I’ve got that experience there now to help these guys and pass on whatever knowledge I’ve gained,” he said.
“That’s a role I’ve got to take up now."
