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.
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Click to see the first four day one fixtures |
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
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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.
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
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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
