Great Britain Sevens name Men's and Women's squads for season opener in Dubai

Great Britain Sevens have announced their Men’s and Women’s squads that will compete in at the HSBC SVNS season opener in Dubai this weekend.

Six weeks ago it was confirmed that Scottish Rugby had taken oversight of the Great Britain Sevens programme, with six men’s players contracted full-time to operate out from Oriam, Heriot Watt’s University’s high performance facility.

Contracted athletes Roan Frostwick, Damien Hoyland, Matt Davidson and Josh Radcliffe have all been selected for the Men’s squad. They are joined by Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors Academy players Rory McHaffie, Ollie Duncan and Brent Jackson.

Ethan Waddleton is the most experienced player in the squad by some distance with 48 events under his belt and Charlton Kerr captains the team.

The Women’s programme is operated almost entirely out of England and Wales, with the squad for this weekend selected from both those nations.

Harlequins wing Katie Shillaker is the most experienced player in the GB squad with five previous tournament appearances. Eloise Hayward is the second-most experienced player in the squad with two tournament experiences. The duo have been named co-captains.

Among the raft of debutants are England age grade internationals Joia Bennett, Solana Shaw de Leon and Abigail Pritchard. Hannah Marshall, Nia Fajeyisan and Jorja Aiono are all Wales age grade internationals.

Ciaran Beattie, who holds the position of Great Britain Sevens Director of Rugby, will coach the men’s squad, while Jonathan Hooper leads the women’s side.

Both hold vast experience, with Beattie a former coach of Scotland Men’s 7s and has been at the helm of the Great Britain programme since England, Scotland and Wales combined in 2022. Hooper was formerly head coach of Wales Women’s U18s 7s and of exhibition side, Shogun Sevens.

Great Britain’s Men have been drawn in Pool B with New Zealand, Spain and Australia, while the Women are in Pool B alongside Australia, Canada and Japan.

“I’m excited for the start of this season, because it’s one where we can really build on throughout,” Beattie said.

“Dubai is the starting point for both of these squads and we’re really excited to see how much they can build and where they can get to over the season.

“We’ve had limited time together in the build-up, but it’s been utilised well and there’s been good focus and energy.

“We’ve got a great blend of some experienced players but also some really good youngsters who are rip-roaring to go.

“The sevens circuit is so demanding on each individual player that by exposing our young talent to it they’re only going to get better.”

Great Britain Squads

Men’s Squad

Roan Frostwick (Scotland Sevens)
Marcus Kershaw (Great Britain Sevens)
Matt Davidson (Scotland Sevens)
Damien Hoyland (Scotland Sevens)
Rory McHaffie (Edinburgh Rugby Pro-Academy)
Brent Jackson (Glasgow Warriors Pro-Academy)
Ethan Waddleton (Great Britain Sevens)
Ryan Apps (Great Britain Sevens)
Tom Burton (Exeter University)
Ollie Duncan (Edinburgh Rugby Pro-Academy)
Josh Radcliffe (Scotland Sevens)
Charlton Kerr (Great Britain Sevens) – Captain
Luca Bardelli (Ayr)

Women’s Squad

Hanna Marshall (Gloucester Hartpury/WRU)
Katie Shillaker (Harlequins/RFU) – Co-captain
Abigail Pritchard (Gloucester Hartpury/RFU)
Eva Wood (Sale/RFU)
Nia Fajeyisan (Gwalia Lightning/WRU)
Hollie Williamson (Richmond RFC/RFU)
Courtney Greenway (Gwalia Lightning/WRU)
Ashton Adcock (Loughborough Lightning/RFU)
Solana Shaw de Leon (Harlequins/RFU)
Jorja Aiono (Gloucester Hartpury/WRU)
Joia Bennett (Saracens/RFU)
Ellen Scantlebury (Loughborough Lightning/RFU)
Eloise Hayward (Great Britain Sevens) – Co-captain