Will Greenwood on the JP Morgan Sevens

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 in Sevens

By Paul Smith, Sportsbeat – There has never been a more exciting time to prove your worth as a sevens rugby player according to England World Cup winner Will Greenwood.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s tournament, for which he is an ambassador, Greenwood claimed those involved may have a realistic chance of choosing between a push for England’s 2015 World Cup squad or alternatively the Rio Olympic Games a year later.

Sevens rugby will be part of Rio 2016, adding to the excitement at this year’s J.P. Morgan 7s, and Greenwood believes it is the ideal chance for young professionals at Aviva Premiership clubs to show what they can do.

"In 2010 when Saracens won the first tournament it was a bit of a toe in the water and since then it has grown year-on-year," said Greenwood. "You get a glimpse of the future in seeing a lot of the academy lads coming through.

"It’s a real opportunity for the coaches. You never know what you are going to get in terms of the players that will be there – either the next generation of England players or England players returning to form – but what you are absolutely guaranteed is pace, athleticism and fun.

"It is good for the academy lads who are pushing to try and get into their senior sides to showcase their talent before the season starts.

"If you are 18, 19 or 20 now and you have got bags of pace and commitment you have got wonderful choice – do I focus on my XVs and try and win a World Cup with England at Twickenham? Or do I switch and give Ben Ryan a call and try and play 7s and win an Olympic gold medal in Rio? Nice decisions to have."

The J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s kicks off on 1st August at Kingsholm with rounds at Franklin’s Gardens and Allianz Park and the final at The Recreation Ground. For tickets and more information visit: www.jpmorgan7s.com or follow @jpmorganrugby7

Wasps international stars ready for return to action

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in London Wasps

Wasps take on Northampton in a return to Aviva Premiership action on Saturday at Adams Park (15.15)

James Haskell won his 50th cap in the final game of the 6 Nations against Wales, and he says despite the disappointment of the loss, it was a proud moment.

“When you start out your career, getting one cap is a huge honour and so to get to 50 is massive for me. It was a frustrating end to the tournament and on a personal note even more so as that’s twice in my career a Grand Slam has slipped away. However I think that the atmosphere that Stuart Lancaster has created is great and we are heading in the right direction with lots of young talent coming through. I am almost 28 but I hope there are a few years ahead of me at international level as this is a side with a lot of potential. There are so many guys coming through in the back row so the competition is fierce. The important thing when you come back to your Club is that you have to get straight back into it”
Looking ahead to Northampton Haskell added.

“I am happy to be back and preparing for the game on Saturday. I got a bit of banter from Dai Young of course when I got back, but it’s good be amongst it again. Northampton have huge aspirations and forwards wise they are outstanding so we need to make sure we bring our A game up front if we want to get back winning.”

Joe Launchbury started every 6 Nations game and the 21-year-old says he has soaked up huge experience to bring back to Wasps.

“It is a long tournament and it’s mentally draining with the turnaround you get. It’s nice to be back at Wasps with a bit more of a regular life and crack on here now even though I hugely enjoyed being part of the England set up. It’s a great environment and in large parts of the tournament we were able to show that we were thriving on that, but of course we are bitterly disappointed with how it ended up. We have to remember that pain and remember how it felt to watch Wales lift the Championship in front of us. We need to use it to get better.”

Launchbury is relishing getting back to club action.

“It feels like a long time since I was here so I’m delighted to be back. I was a bit ill for a few days when the tournament ended so I had a few long sleeps and had a few days to recover but I am raring to go now again. It is a big challenge for us, up front this weekend. Northampton have some huge ball carriers so we need to impose ourselves physically. The games we have left are challenging but it’s a really exciting time and we’re not shying away from it. We want to be in the knock out stages of major competitions and it is up to us to take these next few weeks by the throat and take what we can out of it.”

Andrea Masi was one of the stars of Italy’s 6 Nations campaign, also returning to Wasps in the middle of the tournament.

“I am tired because there were so many games in the last few weeks but it is always a pleasure to come back here and play for Wasps. The next few games are hugely important for us and I want to be part of all of them and take a break when the season ends.”
On Italy’s overall tournament, Masi is taking plenty of positives, while playing down his nomination for 6 Nations Player of the Tournament.

“We finished the tournament well with the win over Ireland and overall I think we played our best rugby ever at times in the 6 Nations and that’s important as we are now really building something for the next World Cup. The game against England was disappointing that we didn’t win it and we needed a bit more belief but we were very competitive against one of the best sides in the world which we need to take positives from. Being nominated for that award is nice but I don’t feel I deserve to be in that category. There are so many players in Wales who deserve that much more than me.”

England U18 name squad for FIRA/AER European Championship in France

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in England U18

England Under 18 coaches John Fletcher, Peter Walton and Ian Peel have named their squad for the 2013 FIRA/AER European Championship, held in Grenoble.

Defending champions England face Portugal in their first game on Friday March 22 (KO 7pm local time) before readying themselves for a potential semi-final and final.  

Head Coach Fletcher said: “We’ve got a good squad for this tournament but we know that it will be a challenge. We’re missing a few lads; Alfie Barron, Max Clark, Brett Herron and Will Owen are injured unfortunately, but it gives an opportunity for guys to come in and impress.

"Our aim is to build on the recent performances against Scotland and Wales and improve through the three games"

Forwards

Andrew Boyce (Worcester Warriors & Kings Worcester)
Andrew Hughes (Sale Sharks & Hartpury College)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby & Bryanston School)
Charlie Hewitt (Exeter Chiefs & Ivybridge College)
Lewis Boyce (Leeds Carnegie & Prince Henry’s Grammar)
Jack Walker (Leeds Carnegie & Prince Henry’s Grammar)
James Chisholm (Harlequins & Brighton College)
Jordan Onjoaife (Northampton Saints & Stowe School)
Josh Peters (Northampton Saints & Oundle School)
Matt Bolwell (Exeter Chiefs & Truro College)
Luke Chapman (Exeter Chiefs & Truro College)
Neale Farthing (Leicester Tigers  & Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth College)
Paul Hill (Leeds Carnegie & Prince Henry’s Grammar)
Sam James (Saracens & Bishops Stortford)

Backs

George Perkins (Saracens & Oaklands College)
Howard Packman (Northampton Saints & Moulton College)
James Mitchell (Sale Sharks & Lymm School)
Josh Sharp (Saracens & Oaklands College)
Josh Skelcey (Northampton Saints & Moulton College)
Louis Clayton-Molloy (London Wasps & Harrow School)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens & Oaklands College)
Stuart Townsend (Exeter Chiefs & Ivybridge College)
Tom Fowlie (London Irish & St Pauls Catholic College)
Tom Howe (London Wasps & Shiplake College)
Lucas Slowik (Bristol Rugby & Filton College)
Rory Jennings (Bath Rugby & Bryanston School)

Now Rugby Six Nations 2013 – Player of the tournament poll

Posted on Mar 13, 2013 in Latest Rugby News

England Women announce squad for RND 2 of Sevens World Series

Posted on Jan 25, 2013 in England Sevens, England Women

England’s Katy McLean, Alexandra Matthews and Marlie Packer are set to make their Women’s Sevens World Series (WSWS) debuts on February 1-2 when Houston, Texas, hosts round two of the series.

McLean and Matthews featured for England in an uncapped tournament in France last season whilst Marlie Packer is set to pull on the England Sevens shirt for the very first time. The trio are part of a 17-woman training squad that are preparing for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow in June.

Richmond’s Alice Richardson will captain England in Houston with Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt named as vice-captain. Richardson and Scarratt are joined in the squad by some seasoned Sevens players including Michaela Staniford, Heather Fisher, Katherine Merchant and Joanne Watmore.

England Women’s Sevens Head Coach Barry Maddocks said: “I am really excited to include Katy, Alex and Marlie in this squad. The three of them are already really good rugby players but they have still got a lot to learn about sevens rugby. This is a great opportunity for them and I am sure they will do themselves proud. I am certainly really excited to see how they do in Houston.”

England head into round two of the WSWS on the back of a seventh place finish in Dubai after fielding a young side for the opener. This time around England have more experience but they face a tough start after being drawn against New Zealand, the Netherlands and Trinidad & Tobago in their pool.

Maddocks added: “This is a really tough pool undoubtedly but for us this tournament is about measuring where we are in relation to our opponents as we continue to prepare and build for the RWC Sevens. It is going to be hard but we will focus on each game as it comes and I know the players will put every effort into putting ourselves into the best possible place we can be at this stage of our journey.”

Picture: Marlie Packer is set to make her England Sevens debut

England Sevens

Heather Fisher (Worcester)

Sarah Guest (Worcester)

Natasha Hunt           (Lichfield)

Ruth   Laybourn       (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

Alexandra      Matthews       (Richmond)

Katy    McLean          (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)

Katherine      Merchant       (Worcester)

Marlie Packer            (Bristol)

Alice   Richardson (C)         (Richmond)

Emily  Scarratt (VC) (Lichfield)

Michaela        Staniford        (Wasps)

Joanne          Watmore        (Worcester)

WSWS RND 2 Houston, Texas

Feb 1

England v Netherlands KO 810pm GMT

England v Trinidad & Tobago KO 10.54pm GMT

England v New Zealand KO 1.38am GMT

Feb 2

Knock out stages