RUGBY SEVENS: Twelve months ago John Porch was running around Sydney’s Shute Shield rugby competition steeling himself for a season with the North Harbour Rays in the National Rugby Championship.

Twelve months on and the 23-year-old from Cumnock in country New South Wales is readying for the Greatest Show on Earth.

It has been a meteoric rise for Porch having only made his Australian Sevens debut in Wellington in January of this year.

It’s been good week for Porch, first celebrating his club side Northern Suburbs break their 41-year Shute Shield drought, then a walk onto the Maracana Stadium for the Rio Opening Ceremony.

“A year ago playing Shute Shield, I wouldn’t have thought this was going to happen at all,” Porch said.

“I’m very grateful that Andy (Friend) has shown belief in me and given me the opportunity so I hope I can go out there and prove him right. I believe I have grown so much this last eight months."

The men take on France first up on day one of their competition tonight before facing Spain to wrap up tomorrow at 5am AEST.

The men’s action will continue on day two with a clash against South Africa before quarter-finals begin later in the morning (AEST).

Australia have been lapping up the Olympic atmosphere, both inside the Athletes’ Village and out-and-about.

“We have been watching most of the girls games and the swimming mostly,” Porch said.

“It’s surreal that I’m here at the moment.

“We have really come together as a family and we’re a tight knit bunch of boys and it’s exciting times ahead for us.”

Head Coach Andy Friend added: “We can’t wait to start. We’ve bumped into a lot of the teams here in the Village and everyone is looking fitter and faster – it’s going to be down to who can deliver over the next three days.

Australia men’s Olympic campaign
Australia v France, Pool B, Midnight tonight (11am local)
Australia v Spain, Pool B, 5am AEST, 10 August (4pm local)
Australia v South Africa, Pool B, Midnight, 11 August (11am local)