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July 26, 2017

2017 Premiership Rugby Singha 7s




Pool A: Wasps, Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers
Pool B: Harlequins, Gloucester Rugby and London Irish
Pool C: Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors and Bath Rugby
Pool D: Exeter Chiefs, Northampton Saints and Saracens 

The opening match on day one - Friday 28th July - will see Wasps take on Newcastle Falcons and Rio 2016 silver medalist Marcus Watson face his former club. Eleven matches later the first day culminates when the hosts Northampton Saints will meet fierce rivals Saracens.

This season the Singha 7s format will take on the style that has become well-known in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and that was used in the aforementioned 2016 Olympics.

All 12 teams will compete across the two days with a round-robin on day one before it splits into Cup, Plate and Bowl competitions on the second day.

As ever some teams are using this Singha 7s competition to develop and look at new talent while others have decided that fielding more experienced individuals is the way to go. 

Below are day one's fixtures, all 12 squads and a spot of team information about each so that you’re ready to rock and roll come 6pm on Friday evening. 


 Click to see the first four day one fixtures

Pool A - Wasps, Newcastle Falcons and Leicester Tigers

Wasps

Wasps are being coached by Lee Blackett with Jimmy Gopperth and Jack Wiggins, the Henley College and Wasps AASE Rugby Academy Manager, assisting him.

The squad is made up of ten members of Wasps' Senior Squad and two Senior Academy players. 

With the likes of Dan Robson, Marcus Watson, Christian Wade and Josh Bassett they’ve pace to burn and there's absolutely no questioning the fact that an unbeaten two days should be their target in order to retain their title in style. 

Squad: Marcus Watson, Brendan Macken, Christian Wade, Gabiriele Lovobalavu, Gabriel Oghre, Alex Rieder, Guy Thompson, Owain James, Dan Robson (C), Craig Hampson, Josh Bassett and Guy Armitage

Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers are using the Singha 7s as the first opportunity to showcase their new partnership with Loughborough University. 

The partnership will develop a key link between the students and the club with Tigers' development coach Brett Deacon leading the University team in National One and Boris Stankovich providing scrum coaching expertise.

As part of this new link, a number of Loughborough University players are present in the Tigers’ sevens squad. 

They will be captained by Andrew Boyce, an England international at U16, U18 and U20 level. The squad includes England sevens international Tom Ffitch, Ireland Wolfhounds 7s international Jack Stapley and Scotland 7s international Alex Glashan, who represented his country at the 2011 Youth Commonwealth Games.

Squad: Harry Nuttall, Andrew Boyce (C), Charlie Dockery, Oli Burgess, Ben Pointon, Alex Glashan, Jack Stapley, Will Kaye, Tom Ffitch, Will Foster, Victor Keunen and Luke Frost

Newcastle Falcons

Cameron Cowell, another England sevens international, will captain the final team in Pool A.

Summer signing Gary Graham is set to make his first Falcons appearance since joining from Jersey, while Max Davies is included after featuring for England during the U20s World Rugby Championship. 

Academy manager and first team skills coach Mark Laycock will once again take charge of the squad, aided by fellow Hartlepool native and former England Sevens international Michael Young.

Squad: Glen Young, Max Davies, Harrison Orr, Gary Graham, Simon Uzokwe, Cameron Cowell (C), Adam Radwan, Ben Stevenson, Charlie Wilson, Brett Connon, George Wacokecoke and Will Muir


 Click to see the second round of Friday fixtures

Pool B: Harlequins, Gloucester Rugby and London Irish

Harlequins

Harlequins' squad includes ten members of the full time Harlequins Academy including Dino Lamb and Gabriel Ibitoye who represented England at the U20s World Rugby Championship. 

It’s a young squad that will be captained by Henry Cheeseman and Elite Player Development Group (EPDG) member Jack Musk will be looking to continue his success in sevens after recently helping England secure silver in the Rugby Sevens at the Youth Commonwealth Games.

Squad: John Okafor, Dino Lamb, Jack Musk, Jonas Mikalcius, Henry Cheeseman (C), Calum Waters, Gabriel Ibitoye, Marcus Smith, Niall Saunders, James Lang, Jake Hennessey, Cadan Murley

London Irish

Academy manager Patrick O’Grady will be in charge of London Irish as they return to the competition after a year out. 

If we look back a little bit further than that the Exiles actually won the competition in 2012 beating Gloucester 31-28 in the final after a coming back from 23 points down.

On that day Irish were captained by Alex Gray with Jonathan Joseph wearing emerald and Dan Robson opposite them in cherry and white!

Back to the present day and Rory Brand captains the Exiles and he is one of four former Wellington College pupils named in the squad. 

Squad: Josh Basham, Isaac Curtis-Harris, Jack Cooke, Rory Brand (C), Ollie Hassell-Collins, Jaike Carter, Ben Loader, Samir Kharbouch, Isireli Seva, Dan Barnes, George Simpson, Tom Hanley

Gloucester Rugby

Scrum half Ben Vellacott will lead Gloucester at Franklin’s Gardens with the West Country side choosing to showcase their academy and young talents in the competition.

Sevens experience arrives in the form of Mason Tonks, who represented the club in last year's tournament, and recently ran out for England in the Rugby Europe competition.

The squad will be guided by Head of Academy Richard Whiffin and Academy Coach Alex Guest. 

Squad: Carwyn Penny, Jacob Morris, Tom Seabrook, Charlie Chapman, Harry Randall, Jake Polledri, Aaron Hinkley, Will Safe, Ben Vellacott, Mason Tonks, Ollie Thorley, Tom Hudson

Click to see the final four day one fixtures


Pool C: Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors and Bath Rugby

Sale Sharks' team will be managed by Academy Transition Coach Neil Briggs, and he will be assisted by Academy Coach Warren Spragg and first-team player Johnny Leota.

Nic Dolly captains the 12-man squad and Paolo Odogwu will be looking to press on after breaking the competition record for the most tries scored in a round last year!

The side also features a couple of Sharks Academy players, including 17-year old Connor Doherty who was recently part of the England sevens side which won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Squad: Billy Wara, Curtis Langdon, JT Nabetelevu, Nic Dolly (C), Toby Hodges, Charlie Reed, Connor Doherty, Luke James, Paolo Odogwu, Connor Wilkinson, Arron Reed
Matt Sturgess

Worcester Warriors

Max Stelling will captain Worcester Warriors and is one of four senior Warriors set to take to the field. 

The captain represented England Sevens in last year's HSBC Sevens World Series with Matt Cox, Ben Howard and Huw Taylor adding further experience to their team. 

Squad: Matt Cox, Buster Lawrence (Birmingham Moseley), Huw Taylor, Tom Dodd, Ben Howard, Max Stelling (C), Nick David, Alex Forrester (Hartpury College), George Wootten (University of Bath), Afeafe Haisila Lokotui, Alex Hearle and Will Butler

Bath Rugby

The players that will be running out in blue, black and white includes five University of Bath students and will be captained by Will Homer. 

The mix selected also has guest players from the RAF, the British Army and London Scottish and Jeff Williams, who is currently recovering from a knee injury, will coach the side. 

Squad: Jack Davies, Jordan Ainslie, Tom Kynge, Will Homer (captain), Will Flinn, Joe Smith, Levi Davis, Robert Belll, Joe Atkinson, Sikeli Rokovunicagi, Rory Wood and Fin Dewar

Pool D: Exeter Chiefs, Northampton Saints and Saracens

Exeter Chiefs

Last season’s defeated sevens finalists Exeter Chiefs will be looking to go one better at Franklin’s Gardens with Ricky Pellow again coaching the side. 

Max Bodilly, Tom Hendrickson and Pete Laverick, all of whom featured 12 months ago, will team up with summer signing Tom O’Flaherty and academy youngsters Joe Snow, Harvey Skinner and Joe Elderkin.

Ricky Pellow’s message to his players is clear ahead of day one:

“We’ve talked this week about keeping things simple, working hard for one another and just getting the basics of our game right. If we can do that, then you stand every chance of winning.”

Squad: Robin Wedlake, Pete Laverick (C), Tom Hendrickson, Sam Morley, Max Bodilly, Sal M’Boge, Tom O’Flaherty,  James McRae, Kieran Kelly, Joe Snow,  Harvey Skinner, Joe Elderkin

Northampton Saints

Tom Stephenson will make a welcome return for the tournament hosts after gaining match fitness playing for Sydney club Randwick over the past few weeks. 

Tom Collins, who joined Stephenson in Australia, is also in the squad, as is Ollie Sleightholme, who was another that helped England win silver in the recent Commonwealth Youth Games.

All 12 players are either currently in, or have graduated from, the Saints Academy system.

Squad: Devante Onojaife, Reece Marshall, James Fish, Fraser Strachan, Fraser Dingwall, Tom Stephenson, Ollie Sleightholme, George Furbank, Alex Mitchell, Tom Emery, Jamie Elliott, Tom Collins

Saracens

Tom Whiteley will skipper a Saracens team that includes five current academy players and three academy graduates.

Hooker Scott Spurling and centre Tom Griffiths join Whiteley to make up the senior squad trio with a couple of England U20 representatives also featuring. 

Academy Manager Mike Hynard will lead the group and he’s very much looking forward to the two days at Franklin’s Gardens:

“I think it’s exciting for the fans to cast their eye over the latest academy recruits who have just come into the club, and personally, it’s exciting for me as Academy Manager to see how these guys go in a tournament environment.”

Squad: Andy Christie Scott Spurling. Tom Griffiths, Will Wilson*, Matt Gallagher, Rueben-Bird Tulloch, Alex Gliksten, Tom Whiteley ©, Mike MacDonald*, Rotimi Segun, Jermaine Olasan*, Josh Christie*

*Guest Player

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July 8, 2017

British & Irish Lions - A Unique Denouement

A draw… Now let’s be honest no-one ever really enjoys a draw do they? Players’ fierce competitive mindsets drive them daily to be the best and honours even just doesn't sit well with them. On top of that when there’s something as large as a Test series on the line all of us watching on would also quite like there to be a definitive answer either way!

Of course there are some matches when you feel like neither side deserves to lose, May’s Premiership final was a good example of that and argubly this third Test could also sit in that category. However let’s go back to the critical point here, something more than just one game was on the line - a Test series - and it will remain unresolved in the history books. In the future extra time simply has to be employed on occasions like these because leaving players with the hollow feeling of unfinished business just isn’t fair on them and doesn’t stack up with every other major competition and final in professional rugby. Without question the players' lingering feelings of ‘what if’ from this incomplete series will take a while to settle but when they do I personally hope that the emotions pride and satisfaction are also felt by the 2017 Lions tourists. 

Why when it was 'only' a draw? Well this was the tour that was deemed to be impossible by so many and the individuals in New Zealand actually proved it to be possible. The road wasn’t always smooth, not every decision was universally agreed with but when it came down to it the Test team delivered, with the support of the full squad, and Tests of epic proportions were witnessed by all watching around the world. 


 On every tour there are players that standout, players that turn heads and grow feet taller before your very eyes and this time around the players’ player of the series Jonathan Davies was one of them. The Welsh centre went about his business without fuss or flamboyance but played with outstanding consistency and conviction in all three Tests. Ahead of the final one he’d made more metres, clean breaks and offloads than any other Lion and in that final game was everywhere. The hit that he made on Jordie Barrett epitomised this, I’m sure you know the one that I mean, it resulted in Sam Warburton gaining a turnover and it epitomised fully the centre's work rate and influence. Ahead of the tour the 13 jersey wasn’t one that was nailed on yet the Welshman showed his experience and class in spades out in New Zealand.


 Then there’s Maro Itoje, the man who had the honour of looking after mascot BIL for the entire tour because he was the youngest member of the touring party. Yes, it’s pretty easy to forget that isn’t it!? The Saracen wasn’t born the last time that New Zealand lost at Eden Park and yet he’s so composed and experienced beyond his years. Of course his game is not perfect but he’s only 22 and the fact that the New Zealand Hearld made a point of awarding a 4/10 means that they all know just how brilliant he is too! You make waves in New Zealand when you’re a threat and the lock is just that!


 Of course there are others who demand attention too; Owen Farrell’s composure off the kicking tee, Sean O’Brien’s instant bounce back to match sharpness, Alun Wyn Jones’ 'unseen' influence, Taulupe Faleteau’s drive and Sam Warburton's leadership all must be noted. Alongside this is defensive work of Andy Farrell and those that aren't ever mentioned as much – the back room team of physiotherapists and S&C staff - must also be hailed. It's not just the best of the best on the field that tour, it's the best of the best there too and being able to field an unchanged XV and bench between the second and third Tests is down to their collective efforts.

Let's be very clear that any question marks regarding the future of these tours are in my mind absurd. Instead what does need to be addressed is scheduling and giving the British & Irish Lions its rightful position in the calendar.

In due course the Kiwi head coach will feedback in order to try and influence a change in the schedule and domestic establishments must co-operate fully. A resolution has to be reached and South Africa 2021 has to be different. The touring party have to be given a fair build-up for the good of the game and to be fair to the players that are selected. To be selected to represent the British & Irish Lions remains the greatest honour that can be bestowed on a home nations’ and it’s just criminal if those selected are not given the opportunity to fully take that chance with a sufficient preparation time.

Right now it’s time for the players and management to head on well-deserved holidays and perhaps for some of us also to take a little time out while the rugby season has its annual July lull. What a season it’s been and what a way to end a British & Irish Lions tour. Forevermore this tour will remain undecided and in limbo and in 12 years’ time the great rivalry will be rekindled with just a little bit more spark than normal given the unique denouement to the 2017 series.
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July 1, 2017

British & Irish Lions - Character, belief and more

Ahead of Saturday’s match, true predictions that the British & Irish Lions were going to level the series and force a decider were few and far between. While many proclaimed to ‘hope’ that the Lions were going to force the final showdown, certain ‘I’ll put my mortgage on it’ calls weren’t being widely made. Why? Well due to New Zealand’s record at home, the fact that All Blacks were heading into the game boosted by the confidence that comes with a first Test victory and the external uncertainty surrounding key Lions' selections. 

 A new mid-field partnership of Owen Farrell and Jonathan Sexton had huge potential on paper but the question flying was did Ben Te'o still deserve to provide the presence that he did for the first Test? And, if he didn't then could this new partnership deliver in the face of the world leaders? Clearly only those inside the camp knew the answers to those questions and more. On Saturday morning we not only saw the partnership in action but we saw the resilience of the British & Irish Lions and the fervent support of the entire establishment.    



Let's be very clear, the Lions didn’t play a perfect 80 minutes, they didn't fully capitalise on the man advantage that they were afforded and their discipline was poor. However as a collective they navigated their way through all of that to get themselves into the right position at the right time. In the face of losing a Test series they pulled what was required out of the bag and Farrell showed - not for the first time - nerves of steel. That all took great heart and character because pressure of that magnitude isn’t felt every day of the week. 

 "That’s only half the job done. I’ll be happy when we take the Test series home.” 

 Immediately after the full-time whistle those were the words of Sam Warburton on the pitch with Sky Sports’ Graham Simmons. As much as the Sky reporter tried to get the Lions captain to effuse about what the team had just achieved the tour captain was having none of it. The steel and determination that he articulated was genuine and replicates the belief of every single member of the touring party. They don’t care one jot about the record at Eden Park nor do they care about others believing that taking this series remains impossible because their only victory so far came from ‘sneaking past 14 men’. Instead this 2017 touring party are clear that nothing but a win next Saturday and a series victory will suffice. 
Discipline, or lack of it, remains problem number one in my eyes and by hook or by crook it must be fixed for Eden Park. There must be clear conversations with individuals whose emotions boiled over too far in Wellington and as a collective the Lions must ensure that they channel their sentiments and desire in the right manner. This week and final Test will be as much about the top two inches and the psychological side of the game as it will be physical. If you're Warren Gatland then decisions about players' emotional intelligence have to be part of the selection process. We all know  that he's not afraid to make the big calls in the face of a third Test. The strength of the leadership will be tested and the power of the unity of the squad must be harnessed. 

 Martin Johnson said a month or so ago that a Lions tour ‘can find you out’ and that it can find 'you out as a person and as a player'. In the face of the world leaders, a group that hate to lose and that history shows will deliver a back lash the Lions must grow as individuals and as a group. What's in front of this touring party is an opportunity to create rugby history. It's that simple. They have the momentum of a Test victory behind them and the ardent support of the thousands of fans that will descend on Auckland this week. The bulk of their physical training is done and from here on it’s about the selection decisions that will be made and those indivuduals delivering in a cauldron of pressure at Eden Park. 

 For now the Lions must celebrate and enjoy their moment because despite the flaws in their performance they just levelled the series with the world leaders and have given themselves the chance to go again. 

 Tomorrow's newspapers in New Zealand will greet them with countless headlines belittling their achievement in Wellington. From what I’ve read already Maro Itoje apparently received just four in one paper’s ratings and none are expected to be generous in their treatment of the touring party overall. 

 Now, more than ever, it’s time for the British & Irish Lions to close ranks as a group, wholeheartedly believe in themselves and attack this final week of their season and the tour with absolutely everything they have got, and then add just a little bit more. 
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