First Premiership Sevens Set to Go
The first ever premiership sevens series is set to begin this weekend in Twickenham Stoop. The first of three events to take place over the summer, will give fans the opportunity to watch English Premiership rugby, in the form of sevens.
Event Structure
The three part event will finish with a final on August 6th. The 12 teams in the English Premiership have been divided into three pools, each pool is to play on separate weekends throughout the summer, the winners and runners up heading to bath at the beginning of August to play for the Sevens championship.
Pool A
The four teams that go this weekend are the Harlequins, the Saracens, the London Irish, and the London Wasps. The teams are treating the tournament as an opportunity to watch some of their young players as well as the chance to take a look at new players who are trying to earn roster spots. It is unlikely that many stars are going to take part in the sevens this summer, especially not in the early rounds. With the premiership season set to go in September coaches and managers cannot risk losing a superstar only a month away from the opening match. However, the games are a perfect opportunity for fans to get a close look at some of the up and coming talent on their squads. It is also an opportunity to take in some class rugby for a very nominal fee.
The four teams have named their squads in preparation for tomorrow, and many of them have a couple names the English rugby fan may be able to recognize. The London Irish have announced that they will include fly-half Ryan Lamb, as well as Guy Armitage, who won the Middlesex Sevens last season. The Harlequins have included former Irish international Simon Keogh. The Sarries however, look to be the pick of the group naming regular starter Noah Cato, as well as Owen Farrell, and past England Sevens International starter Nils Mordt. The Wasps are not to be outdone as they have slotted former England player Andy Gomarsall, and the teams new fly-half, Seb Jewell, to appear this weekend.
International Importance
The tournament holds even deeper implications as many of the men competing this summer will be looking to influence England’s Sevens coach Ben Ryan, in the hopes they may be picked to play at the commonwealth games. England has not won a gold at the commonwealth games since the inception of sevens rugby in 1996. The commonwealth games will also serve as an important warm up to the first ever rugby sevens Olympic tournament in 2016.
Tom Vardell, who was part of the silver medal winning English side at the last Commonwealth games in 2006, had this to say of the importance of seven’s tournaments such as the one this weekend.
“If England have any hope of winning the Commonwealth Games, or finish like we did last time, they need that backing and financial support…Ben has got to have the opportunity to look at players who will be coming through and pushing for places and this is the best way to do it.”
This weekend in Twickenham Stoop should be an exciting one, as teams gear up for another season of premiership rugby, the tournament offers them a great chance to take a look at some of the young talent they have acquire and developed. It is also gives those youngsters an opportunity to impress Ryan, as well as a great occasion for the coach to get a look at who he might bring to this year’s Commonwealth Games, and perhaps the Olympics in 2016.
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