England names a new squad for Sevens – Rugby News Update
England has named a new Sevens team having finished the season in third place at this year's HSBC Sevens World Series. New Zealand came first with Fiji coming in second place.
However, Ben Ryan, the head coach of England Sevens is looking forward to the new season, saying that the experience of past seasons will help the team.
"Being able to keep the bulk of this season's squad together and add new faces is good news for us in terms of maintaining momentum, increasing competition and driving up standards," said Ryan.
The management has handed full-time contracts to four new players, taking the total to 16 players. One other permanent appointment has been of Russell Earnshaw, the assistant coach, who was previously combining his Sevens duty with his director of rugby
role at Birmingham Solihull.
Speaking about the coming season, Ryan was upbeat and he feels that the players can be world beaters, and with the new additions they have added experience.
He said, "We believe we can maximise their potential and turn them into world class sevens players. Some of the new full-time players have already gained experience in the HSBC Sevens World Series; others will make their debuts in Europe this summer and
they're all part of the next chapter for England Sevens."
There have been changes in the squad as well. England have added Dan Bibby (UWIC), James Lightfoot-Brown (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Mitchell (Oxford University), Marcus Watson (Saracens), Jeff Williams (RC Chateaurenard) and forwards Mike Ellery (Moseley) and
Jack Preece (Birmingham Solihull). They have been given new contracts.
Greg Barden, the former captain has called time on his career while hooker Simon Hunt and winger Nick Royle have quit the squad.
A new look England side will be hoping to do better next year, and it is always important to freshen up things. It adds new blood in the team, and keeps the competition going within the side.
England Sevens squad: Dan Bibby, John Brake, Chris Brightwell, Chris Cracknell, Mike Ellery, Christian Lewis-Pratt, James Lightfoot-Brown, Tom Mitchell, Dan Norton, Tom Powell, Jack Preece, James Rodwell, Mathew Turner, Rob Vickerman, Marcus
Watson, Jeff Williams.
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