England Sevens call up Lindsay-Hague and Watson

Posted on Mar 10, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Ollie Lindsay-Hague returns and Marcus Watson features for the first time in the England squad for the next two legs of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong and Adelaide.

Harlequins utility back Lindsay-Hague had been out of action since helping England lift the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens title in December when he touched down twice in the semi final win over New Zealand and against Samoa in the final.

He recovered from injury to make his first two Aviva Premiership starts for Harlequins and heads out next week for the Cathay Pacific Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens which takes place on March 25-27.

Lindsay-Hague takes over from Simon Hunt, who is in Championship play-off action for Birmingham and Solihull, while London Irish wing Watson, who appeared for England at Under 20 level last season, travels as the 13^th man.

“It’s great to have Ollie back now he’s fit again and he comes back having started the last two Aviva Premiership games,” said head coach Ben Ryan.

“He’s a confident young lad who’s playing well at the moment which is good for him, for Quins and for us.

“Marcus is a quality outside back who’s already appeared in the Premiership as well as at a Junior World Championship. He’s been training with us throughout this season and he’ll travel out as part of the squad before we make our decision on the 12 before each of the two tournaments.”

Another former England Under 20 wing, Mark Odejobi (Esher and Brunel University), keeps his place after taking over from injured British Army forward Isoa Damudamu (shoulder) in Las Vegas last month.

England lead the HSBC Sevens World Series at the half-way markand face the USA, Japan and China in the pool stages at the Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po.

England Sevens squad for Hong Kong and Adelaide
Greg Barden (Royal Navy)
John Brake (England Sevens)
Dan Caprice (England Sevens)
Chris Cracknell (England Sevens)
Ben Gollings (England Sevens, captain)
Ollie Lindsay-Hague (Harlequins)
Dan Norton (Bristol Rugby)
Mark Odejobi (Esher & Brunel University)
Tom Powell (England Sevens)
James Rodwell (England Sevens)
Nick Royle (England Sevens)
Mathew Turner (England Sevens)
Marcus Watson (London Irish)

England Under-19 Regional Academies beat Australia Schools

Posted on Dec 10, 2009 in Rugby News

England’s Under 19 Regional Academy opened a four-match touring programme by the Australian Schools by scoring four tries to two to claim a 27-12 victory at Lymm RFC this afternoon.

Coach John Fletcher was always confident that his side had the talent to test the visitors and they fulfilled all his expectations in holding the whip-hand from the moment full-back Jonathan Joseph (London Irish) crossed for the opening try and fly-half Jake Sharp (Saracens) converted.

Sharp claimed the second after 19 minutes and converted his own score for a 14-0 lead and while Australian centre Matthew Garland cut the deficit with a 29th minute try to raise the visitors’ morale and make the interval scoreline 14-5.

However, a third try from wingman Earl Collins (Worcester Warriors) on 40 minutes opened up the lead once again, although once again the tourists refused to concede the struggle and rallied with a try by flanker Jack de Guingand that scrum-half and captain Matthew Lucas converted to bring his side within a score at 19-12.

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Catt gets a start for Irish against Bath

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 in Rugby News

Mike Catt will make his first start of the season for London Irish at the Recreation Ground tomorrow evening when the Exiles play Bath Rugby in round nine of the Guinness Premiership. The match kicks-off at 5.35pm.

Catt will play at inside centre on a pitch that he knows intimately from his 12 years with the West Country club. The England Rugby World Cup winner is one of four changes to the starting line-up of the London Irish team that played Newcastle Falcons last weekend.

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