Team GB’s Rugby 7’s captain Tom Mitchell, from Cuckfield, watched on as his teammates suffered double heartbreak ths morning as they missed out on a medal in Tokyo.

Mitchell, who watched on from the sidelines due to an injury which forced him off in their comeback win over the USA, saw his teammates beaten 29-7 by New Zealand in their semi-final before losing 17-12 to Argentina in their bronze medal match.

The defeats means they have missed out on a second successive podium finish after taking a silver medal in Rio five years ago.

Ben Harris’ early try put Britain ahead, but Argentina responded with tries from Lautaro Bazan Velez and Marcos Moneta, plus a Santiago Mare conversion.

Ollie Lindsay-Hague’s try early in the second period, converted by Bibby, tied the game, before Ignacio Mendy then scored the winning try to clinch bronze.

But speaking after the semi-final defeat a tearful Mitchell admits they had their eye on gold.

He said: “There is no shying away from the disappointment, there is no point in pretending that it’s not hurting.

"It is devastating. But a lot of what we talk about the opportunity to inspire people through what we are doing, which doesn’t stop now just because we have lost a semi-final.

"We know how good we are and we genuinely came in with an eye on the top spot.”