Premiership Singha 7s Finals

(Sportsbeat for Premiership Rugby)

The Aviva Premiership’s 7s Tournament is always our first hint of domestic rugby during what is a long and dark summer drought. The tournament provides us with a chance to view players coming through our Aviva Premiership sides' academy systems and gives the Directors of Rugby the opportunity to test some players that they may have on trial or loan to see if they will continue to work with them.

The fact that Sevens will be part of the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janerio has added an extra bit of spice to this year’s Premiership competition with one side in particular pulling out a number of ‘big guns’ that may have Rio in their sights! After opening rounds across the country last week, at Kingsholm, the Ricoh Arena, Kingston Park and the previous week’s Welsh event at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park we have our finalists and once again The Stoop will host the denouement of the tournament this coming Friday night (28th).

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Reigning Champions Gloucester Rugby made full use of their home draw and packed house at Kingsholm to secure three wins from three and At Singha’s media evening on Monday the man heading up Gloucester’s Sevens charge again, Olly Morgan, shared a little more about their top try scorer and Captain Steph Reynolds;

"He isn't the most communicative Captain because obviously he is running the length of the pitch and absolutely knackered but what he does have is a great understanding of the game. Yes, he has pace but I don’t think that people give him enough credit for his defensive work, he hardly misses a tackle and he often comes up against the quickest in the other team."

Steph is a laid back individual; he takes things in his stride (no pun intended) and shared with me how he simply aims to 'lead by example'. Out of Steph’s earshot Olly likened the twenty one year old to a Gloucester legend, James Simpson-Daniel saying that Steph reminds him of a young Simpson-Daniel in terms of his 'skill set and ability’. Obviously this is a great compliment and like so many of these younger players at our Premiership Clubs there is an opportunity to be grasped for Steph as season as Olly mentioned;

“I think with the RWC and Jonny May probably being involved in England there is certainly a position up for grabs, the difficulty is people obviously talk about size and playing in the Premiership in this day and age you have to have some physicality. It will be interesting to see how he progresses, each year he puts a marker down and is given an opportunity and hopefully they’ll be more for him with the world cup”

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With respect to every other side competing on Friday evening many see Wasps as Gloucester’s greatest threat to defending their title. In the group rounds Wasps' team sheet was the most recognisable of all including Christian Wade, Guy Thompson and Elliot Daly. For Elliot the Singha 7s was the first time on a 7s pitch since he was 'about 17' but by all accounts it was a thoroughly enjoyable and useful outing;

“Dai put the squad up and when we all saw the names I think that everyone wanted to be in and around the squad and there was a lot of buzz about it on the training ground. Sevens gives that different emphasis, I’m in more of a play-maker kind of role on the side as opposed to a finisher and it was great to have boys scoring tries so early on in the season. It is quite individual, even though it is a team game; you need your individual skills to be pretty high – tackling, passing and everything like that so it eases you into the season and a great way to play the game.”

The Singha 7s Finals will be hotly contested affair at The Stoop for alongside the two favourites mentioned the Exeter Chiefs, Sale Sharks, Newcastle Falcons, two Welsh regions and the hosts Harlequins will all be ready to cause an upset. With 163 tries scored in the opening rounds of action and a dry night expected in London the stage is set for individuals to flourish and one side to enjoy a spot of silverware amidst all of the tough pre-season conditioning and hard work. 

All of the important details for the finals of the Singha Premiership Rugby 7s are; 
Date - Friday 28th August - 6pm KO
Tickets - £10 (Adults) and £5 (Children) purchase here. 
Venue - The Twickenham Stoop, London
Opening QFs - Newport Gwent Dragons vs. Sale Sharks, Gloucester Rugby vs. Harlequins, Wasps vs. Exeter Chiefs & Newcastle Falcons vs. Scarlets.