big names return for london sevens 2010
planetrugby.com
Several teams have called up their big guns for the climax of the IRB Sevens World Series, which resumes in London and ends in Edinburgh.
England Sevens coach Ben Ryan has recalled Ollie Phillips and Tom Varndell as they seek to defend the London Sevens title at Twickenham on 22-23 May. Phillips, the IRB Sevens Player of the Year 2009 who now plays club rugby for leading French side Stade Francais, will make his first appearance of the Series as England seek to win a first title since their dramatic defeat of New Zealand at Twickenham 12 months ago. England are currently fifth in the overall standings, having not won a Cup title all season, and the returning quartet will boost an already experienced line-up |
Micky Young scores the winning try in sudden death. England won 31-26 over New Zealand
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which includes Kevin Barrett, captain Ben Gollings and James Rodwell.
England are currently fifth in the overall standings, having not won a Cup title all season, and the returning quartet will boost an already experienced line-up which includes Kevin Barrett, captain Ben Gollings and James Rodwell.
Meanwhile, New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens welcomes back Lote Raikabula, one of his key quartet alongside captain DJ Forbes, Zar Lawrence and Tomasi Cama, to a side that are still in the hunt for the Series title, sitting just three points behind Samoa.
Tietjens, who has coached New Zealand to the title in eight of the 10 World Series to date, will travel to Europe in confident mood having been able to field his strongest squad for the last final tournaments of the season.
Elsewhere, Paul Treu has added some much needed firepower to the South Africa Sevens squad with Fabian Juries, Mzwandile Stick and Neil Powell all returning.
The return of the three stalwarts gives Treu's squad a more familiar look, after injuries and several call-ups to Super 14 rugby have meant South Africa have failed to reach the heights of last season when they were crowned IRB Sevens World Series champions for the first time.
South Africa currently lie sixth in the overall standings, 20 points behind England, and just two points ahead of Kenya.
Australia Sevens coach Michael O'Connor has welcomed the timely return of four key players - Bernard Foley, Clinton Sills, Nick Phipps and Ed Jenkins - from injury.
Australia come into the London Sevens lying fourth in the standings after a Plate final victory over South Africa in Hong Kong took their tally to 78 points.
Having reached back-to-back Cup semi-finals for the first time in both events 12 months ago, coach Stephen Gemmell has included the likes of Ally Hogg in the Scotland squad. Hogg has played 48 Tests for his country.
Scotland have continuously raised their game for the two UK legs of the Series in the past and also welcome back captain Scott Forrest from injury.
Al Caravelli has selected his 12-man USA Sevens squad, with forwards Matt Hawkins and Leonard Peters and key playmaker Nese Malifa notable absentees.
With 32 World Series points already this season, the USA has reached its highest ever ranking of ninth. Argentina is eighth, just six points away.
Squads for London and Edinburgh:
England: Greg Barden, Kevin Barrett, John Brake, Chris Brightwell, Ben Gollings (captain), Simon Hunt, Oliver Lindsay-Hague, Ollie Phillips, Tom Powell, James Rodwell, Mat Turner, Tom Varndell, Rob Vickerman, Christian Wade*, Micky Young.
New Zealand: Kurt Baker, Beauden Barrett, Tomasi Cama, DJ Forbes, Solomon King, Tim Mikkelson, Zar Lawrence, Lote Raikabula, Ben Souness, Toby Arnold, Sherwin Stowers, Save Tokula.
South Africa: Mpho Mbiyozo, Chase Minnaar, Frankie Horne, Cecil Afrika, Neil Powell, Kyle Brown, Fabian Juries, Ryno Benjamin, Chris Dry, Mzwandile Stick, Hoffman Maritz, MJ Mentz.
Australia: Patrick McCutcheon (captain), James Stannard, Nick Phipps, Jacob Taylor, Brackin Karauria-Henry, Bernard Foley, Ed Jenkins, Ed Stubbs, Jesse Parahi, Daniel Yakopo, Clinton Sills, Sam Latunipulu.
Scotland: Scott Forrest (captain), Mike Adamson, Alex Blair, Chris Fusaro, Roddy Grant, Ally Hogg, John Houston, Lee Jones, Greig Laidlaw, Mark Robertson, Colin Shaw, Andrew Turnbull.
USA: Marco Barnard, Mark Bokhoven, Paul Emerick, Tai Enosa, Colin Hawley, Alex Ross, Ryan Roundy, Tommy Saunders, Blaine Scully, Shalom Suniula, Kevin Swiryn, Zach Test.
