Carlin Isles
United States of America
player portrait
Full name Carlin Russell Isles
Born November 21, 1989, Massillon, Ohio
Current age 34 years 128 days
Major teams United States of America
Position Fullback, Wing
Height 5 ft 8 in
Weight 165 lb
Profile

Carlin Isles burst into rugby's consciousness at the end of 2012 when a series of video clips appeared on the internet of him outpacing all and sundry at the Gold Coast Sevens for the USA. Just as footage of his compatriot Taku Ngwenya leaving Bryan Habana in his slipstream during the 2007 World Cup made him an overnight sensation, so too did the footage of Isles, with everyone wanting to know more about him.

That he could leave even the best defences chasing his shadow should not have come as any surprise seeing as he holds a personal best of 10.13 for the 100m and 6.65 for the 60m, but what was truly remarkable was that he had only taken up the sport in June 2012 having turned his back on a career in athletics.

While his PB may appear impressive on a rugby pitch, on the track it left him trailing behind the likes of Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay for a place in the USA's London 2012 Olympic Games team. He had previously received a track and field scholarship to Ashland University, but in training for the London Olympic trials he stumbled upon some rugby video clips and quickly made a call to former England scrum-half Nigel Melville, now CEO of USA rugby.

The ex-London Wasps and Gloucester director of rugby quickly spotted his potential and added him to the USA's sevens programme. After a run out for a development side at the Victoria 7s he was included in the squad for the Gold Coasts sevens and after leaving a number of the New Zealand side for dead with his speed, the video of him became an overnight sensation.

He has subsequently been included in the squads for the Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand and Las Vegas legs of the IRB Sevens World Series. The next step now is to get to grips with rugby's myriad rules and regulations and then he can begin to think about performing on the biggest stage of all - at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.

Latest Articles
'Fastest man in rugby' to leave Glasgow Warriors (Jul 4, 2014) Fastest man in rugby still has a lot to learn (Apr 1, 2014) Glasgow sign 'fastest man in rugby' Carlin Isles (Feb 27, 2014) World's quickest rugby player linked with Glasgow (Feb 18, 2014) Carlin Isles commits to rugby (Feb 6, 2014) Carlin Isles news and articles (9) »
Latest Photos
Jan 26, 2014
Carlin Isles runs in for a try
Carlin Isles runs in for a try
©  Getty Images
Dec 11, 2013
USA Sevens star Carlin Isles poses above Cape Town
USA Sevens star Carlin Isles poses above Cape Town
©  Mat Turner/ Twitter
Oct 9, 2013
America's Carlin Isles in full flight ahead of the Gold Coast Sevens
America's Carlin Isles in full flight ahead of the Gold Coast Sevens
©  Getty Images
Aug 18, 2013
San Francisco's Carlin Isles races away
San Francisco's Carlin Isles races away
©  Getty Images
Carlin Isles rugby photos (5) »

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