Despite High Wycombe’s Ben Harris scoring four tries for Team GB at this year’s Olympics, it wasn’t enough for the Lions as they finished in fourth place in the Rugby Sevens.

Team GB finished behind Argentina, New Zealand and the eventual winners of the tournament, Fiji, despite romping their way into the knockout stages.

In the group stage, they defeated Canada and Japan 24-0 and 34-0 respectively, with Harris getting on the scoresheet in the former.

They then lost their last group game to Fiji 33-7, with Harris again scoring a try.

Harris continued his fine form as in the quarter-finals, he scored another try as GB defeated the USA 26-21 in an incredibly close match in Tokyo, before losing to New Zealand in the semi-finals 29-7.

In the fight for bronze, GB took on Argentina who lost their semi-final to winners Fiji, and despite Harris getting his fourth try of the tournament, it wasn’t enough as the Lions missed out on a podium place, losing 17-12.

Harris, who scored the opening try against Argentina, said: "This tournament has been a bit of a roller coaster.

"This group has been through so much since we all came together in March, and the memories we have made together make this journey all worthwhile."

However, his teammate, Dan Bibby, hit out over a lack of funding in the sport.

Prospects for the men's and women's squads looked bleak last year amid significant cuts made to British sevens programmes.

Funding was then obtained ahead of the Olympics via a commercial partnership struck between the Rugby Football Union, Scottish Rugby Union, Welsh Rugby Union and The National Lottery promotional fund.

It enabled Britain to field squads at the Games, but Bibby and a number of his fellow squad members now face an uncertain future in the sport, despite defying odds to be a competitive force in Tokyo.

Bibby, who took over from injured captain Tom Mitchell for Britain's last two games, said: “We tried to showcase ourselves as much as we could and show how exciting sevens is.

"Unless the unions pull their fingers out, it is not going to be exciting much longer.

“Off little funding, we can do that. Imagine what can do with proper funding.

"If you look at who has done well in this tournament - New Zealand, Argentina and Fiji have had full programmes the entire time. You cannot compete on this level unless it is properly funded.

"I can only do what I can on the pitch. Everything else is up to the unions."