There is a youthful feel about the current England rugby sevens squad, with former star player Simon Amor now the boss and a program in place to develop burgeoning talents on the IRB World Series circuit.
However, that youthful exuberance is coupled with valuable experience in the squad, with the likes of James Rodwell and Dan Norton having been involved in the setup for a number of years.
Tom Powell is another of those to add a wise head to the young shoulders, but his role in the team came to an end this evening as he played his last game of rugby sevens inside a packed Ibrox Stadium.
While England fell short in the medal competition at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, losing to Samoa in the quarter-final having been beaten to top spot in Group D by Australia, they still managed to pick up some silverware as they beat Wales in dramatic fashion to claim the plate.
Having also emerged victorious against hosts Scotland by just three points in the semi-final, Amor's side scored a try with the last play of the game to clinch a 17-15 victory over the Welsh.
After the match, Powell spoke exclusively to Sports Mole about the weekend, his career as a whole, and what retirement holds for him.
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A try in the last second to beat Wales and claim the plate - that is a dramatic way to end the weekend, and your career!
"Yeah it is. It's certainly not the way we wanted to end it, we're all bitterly disappointed with the way it's worked out. We got a couple of things wrong in a couple of key moments against Samoa, and that's really cost us.
"The Australia game is one of those that happens sometimes like that - we had put it to bed and were pretty confident coming into this morning. To be honest everyone was absolutely gutted afterwards so the boys showed great character and great spirit to be able to come back from that to put in two decent performances and get two decent results."
How did you manage to pick yourselves up, not just from the Australia and Samoa defeats but also when you looked like you were going to be beaten by Wales?
"It just shows where the boys have come from - the character and belief that is in the team. They're an unbelievable bunch and they'll go a long, long way. The desire and the passion to play for the badge and the country is immense.
"Everyone here knows that it is the biggest honour and the biggest privilege you can do is to play for your country and the boys showed that today. A great deal of pride is felt for myself and for everyone involved in the team - it's just unfortunate we didn't get the result we wanted this morning."
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You were given the honour of leading the team out on your final appearance - that was a nice touch from the boys.
"Yeah it was. It was actually Phil Burgess, stepping in for Tom Mitchell, just pushed me to the front. It was a little bit emotional, but like I say it is a huge honour and a huge privilege and great memories I'll take with me for a long time."
You were taken off before England scored that dramatic winning try, is there a tinge of disappointment at not having been on the field for it?
"To be honest I was knackered! At that point, that's when you need to use your subs and take emotion and sentiment out of it. It's about getting the result first and foremost, and I've got no problems with that whatsoever.
"I've been one of the luckiest people around to be able to play in front of such an incredible atmosphere at the Commonwealth Games. It was a special, special memory."
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Any thoughts about reconsidering the retirement decision?
"It is very, very tempting. There were a lot of things to consider with it, but I've made my decision and I'm going to stick with it."
How about your career as a whole? It's been a great one...
"It's been absolutely fantastic. As I say I'm hugely honoured, hugely privileged to get a chance to play for my country with a load of mates, representing your family, where you're from, all your friends - I can't speak highly enough of it.
"Where Simon is going to take this program is going to be incredible. I'll be a big and avid supporter of England sevens team from hereon in."
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So what is next for Tom Powell? Could you be more than a fan - is a coaching role an option?
"Who knows what's going to happen down the line, but for now I'm going to get away from rugby for a little while, see what else is out there. I've played it for 15 years straight now pretty much.
"It's a big wide world, I'll see what's out there but rugby will never leave and there will always be a special place in my heart. I'll always be coming back to it at some point."
Powell was among the spectators as South Africa inflicted New Zealand's first ever Commonwealths defeat to claim gold in the final.
Barney Corkhill
