Longbottom was a part of Kalinga Black Tigers in the first season of the Rugby Premier League, but has moved over to Hyderabad Heroes for the second, becoming an integral part of a side that topped the league phase and will be looking to better its third place finish from 2025. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Like many youngsters in Australia, Maurice Longbottom originally wanted to play rugby league, and pursued it to a high level until the age of 21. Perhaps that’s why he describes himself as having “only” been in rugby sevens for nine-and-a-half years.

Those dreams came to an end when he was told that he was too small to play professionally. “As a young kid, that was quite crushing, and I suppose ruined my confidence a little bit,” he remembered of the tough time. “I sort of gave up on the game that I love so much.”

Things turned around when he was introduced to the sevens game.”One sevens tournament, I suppose, changed everything for me and gave me a whole new perspective on professional rugby. I fell in love with rugby sevens instantly,” he told Sportstar

ALSO READ | Hockey in the air: How lacrosse is rising in India on the road to LA Olympics

From La Perouse to Dubai, via rugby sevens

Nine-and-a-half years on, he is now a storied Australian international, veteran of multiple World Series’, a two-time Olympian, and one of the biggest names at the ongoing second edition of the Rugby Premier League.

Longbottom first found out he would be a full Australia international while representing the A side in the Munich Sevens tournament in Germany.

“I was in the Australia A team and we ended up winning the tournament. Once we won the tournament, I got Player of the Match and we were in the sheds, and the coach at the time said to me, you’re not going anywhere. We’re going to sign you on a deal with the Australian rugby team as soon as we get back,” he reminisced.

“I had to ring my mum and tell her straight away and I was very, very happy.”

He pinpoints the day he made his Australia debut at the Dubai Sevens in December 2017 as one of the most cherished moments of his career.

“I’ll never forget the day that I got my Australian rugby kit. It’s something I hold very close to me, it’s something that I cherish. It’s those moments, being able to represent not just my country, my people from where I’m from in Australia,” he said.

“The nerves, the excitement, the pinch yourself moment of being able to run out in front of thousands in the middle of Dubai, somewhere I never thought I’d go or visit or see. That’s something I’ll never forget.”

ALSO READ | AFI conducts bag checks for syringes, banned substances at National Inter-State Championships

Olympic dreams

Alongside his debut, Longbottom also lists appearing at the Olympics as one of the best moments of his professional career.

“As a young kid from a small place called La Perouse, as an Indigenous kid as well, it’s not something you dream about or think you’re going to achieve, but I’ve been lucky enough to go to two,” he said.

He appeared for the Australian side at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 editions of the event, managing a best performance of fourth in 2024.

“It’s a very special moment, especially the Tokyo one that was affected by COVID. There were a lot of rules and a lot of challenges to get us there. We got there and I still remember walking in the village and I had to pinch myself and really take it in and enjoy it,” he recalled of the experience.

Walking around the village with people like Yao Ming, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Patty Mills, Ash Barty, Rafael Nadal, you’re just walking around having conversations with them like it’s just a normal day.

It was very surreal to be able to rub shoulders with, in my eyes, excellence. And that was the same in Paris. You’re just walking around and seeing these athletes, you’re seeing how they get themselves ready for tournaments and whatnot. It was a very surreal moment and an opportunity that I’ll never forget,” he said.

ALSO READ | Anushka breaks hammer throw national record, carries father Sushil’s dream to Asian Games stage

A story told in boots

Longbottom is Aboriginal Australian, and often decorates his boots with paintings depicting important things important to him. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he also put a dedication to his aunt, who had recently passed away, on his boots, and has often had his grandfather’s initials on them as well.

“The paintings on the boots are from my culture, and they tell a story,” he explained. “The one about my auntie, she had recently passed away and I wasn’t able to have a full send off. I wanted to honour her and wear her on my boots, to show respect and let her and the family know that she’ll always be with me. She was quite close to me.

And then for both Olympics, I had six pairs of boots painted, all different pairs of boots, all different kinds of designs, all different kinds of stories. But there’s things that were on every single boot, like my grandfather’s initials. Again, someone I hold very close to me, and I had the Olympic rings on them and my number,” he further elaborated.

“There were all different kinds of things. One boot had a whale on it, which is my totem. In my culture, we believe when you pass away, you come back in a second life as a totem and mine is the whale.

So, for me, it’s just to be connected to my people, my culture back home. When we’re away for very long times, playing football and representing the country, it’s just another way for me to stay connected and stay grounded with my culture and my people.”

Longbottom also places emphasis on being a role model for the next generation.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today, or doing what I am today without my community and my people that have been behind me along the road and along the journey. They have always backed me to be who I am, known what I can do, and always supported me no matter where I am around the world,” he said. “So, for me to be able to represent them and to give back and to help the next generation come through, that’s just a small piece that I can do.”

ALSO READ | Borrowed pole in her hand, father’s picture in her bib: Sindhushree’s dreams take flight

An RPL role model

The 31-year-old now finds himself in India for the second edition of the Rugby Premier League. Longbottom was a part of Kalinga Black Tigers in the first season, but has moved over to Hyderabad Heroes for the second, becoming an integral part of a side that topped the league phase and will be looking to better its third place finish from 2025.

He noted immediate improvements in the standard of the league, saying, “I think this year, especially after the first game, you can tell the intensity, the competitiveness, the rugby skills have just gone up and up and up again within just a year. So, that’s been awesome.”

In a team looking to marry Indian talent with its international stars, he has also been a leader in the side, a role he has relished. “I enjoy that sort of role, I have it back home in Australia,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of young boys that are still coming through and you’re sort of teaching along the way and helping build and improve skills. That’s what it’s all about when you come into these teams. You’ve got local boys, you’ve got boys that play across the world and you’re all coming together as one to be one team.

So, we’ve all got to upskill, we’ve all got to be on the same page and we’ve all got to make sure we understand each other’s games. It’s all part of the journey, and if I can come over and help improve or better someone’s skills, then that’s the whole reason we’re here. To help build and to help improve so they can build this beautiful game of rugby in India.”

Eyes on the prize

While in the short term, his eyes are on the prize with Hyderabad, he has one more goal moving forward. “For me, I obviously want to get to the LA Olympics. I feel my body feels good at the moment, so I just have to keep tracking along the way I am, keep my body healthy, and keep doing the things that I need to do on and off the field to make sure of that.”

Published on Jun 27, 2026