Premiership Rugby 7s: All the teams and the players to watch
The annual Premiership Rugby 7s tournament has become not only a showcase for the new domestic season, it has also become a valuable stepping stone for the latest wave of talent coming through in the English game.
All 12 Premiership clubs have named their squads for the event, which begins this Friday at Franklin’s Gardens with the group stages before the Plate and Cup tournaments are decided on the Saturday.
RugbyPass have compiled all 12 teams below and singled out one fresh face worth watching out for across the two days.
BATH: Levi Davis, Tom de Glanville, Ollie Fox, Max Ojomoh, George Worboys, Myles Bean (guest), Ryan Crowley (guest), Fin Dewar (guest), Nacanieli Kinikinilau (guest), Jack Skelton (guest), Frankie Smith (guest), Tomasi Tanumi (guest).
Max Ojomoh – Having played for Bath’s Premiership Shield side last season, Ojomoh will be well-acquainted with the physical demands of men’s rugby. A balanced inside centre, Ojomoh’s eagerness to find space and ability to make tacklers miss should help him at Franklin’s Gardens.
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BRISTOL BEARS: Harry Ascherl (Bristol Academy U18s), Aaron Chapman, Jack Bates, Ioan Lloyd, Will Capon, Nathan Chamberlain, Toby Venner (Hartpury BUCS), Robbie Smith (Hartpury), Harry Short (Hartpury BUCS), Chay Mullins (Bristol Academy U18s), Alex Forrester (Hartpury BUCS), Ben Tothill (Weston).
Ioan Lloyd – The Welsh fly-half signed professional terms with Bristol this summer after impressing in their under-18s last season, as well as in the Premiership 7s. He’s quick, a good ball-handler and a very promising playmaker.
EXETER CHIEFS: James McRae, Joe Snow, Ollie White, Sam Maunder, Harvey Skinner, Sam Morley, Max Bodilly (capt), Luke Mehson, Arthur Realton, Jordan Bond, Charlie Fetney, Barrie Karea.
Sam Maunder – Having not signed any under-18s last season, there aren’t any new faces to look for here but another year for Maunder will give him a further opportunity to showcase why he and his older brother Jack are capable of filling the Nic White void at the club next year.
Holy footrace….???@maxbods_ and @ZachKibirige will be two of the senior flyers gracing the #PremRugby7s ????
And in case you needed reminding ? this lot have proper wheels, take a look ? pic.twitter.com/5m1J20iKsA
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) September 12, 2019
GLOUCESTER: George Barton, Jack Clement, Reece Dunn, Josh Gray, Joe Howard, Corey Howells, Ethan Hunt, Isaac Marsh, Alex Morgan, Jake Morris, Charlie Tchen, Stephen Varney.
Jack Clement – A mobile back rower, Clement could shine in the sevens arena and is one of the first-year forwards who could really catch the eye this weekend. Gloucester don’t lack for alternatives, with seven of their new senior academy intake on show.
HARLEQUINS: Ben Fulton (guest), Sam Riley, Lennox Anyanwu, Lailand Gordon (guest), George Hammond, Jack Kenningham, Mitieli Vulikijapani (guest), Sikeli Rokovunicagi (guest), Lloyd Wheeldon (guest), Dylan Munro (guest), James Bourton, Harry Barlow.
Sam Riley – The skilful hooker should thrive in the open spaces of sevens and will have an opportunity to show off his speed and ball-handling skills. First chance to impress in the potentially entertaining Riley vs Alfie Barbeary rivalry falls to the Harlequin.
LEICESTER TIGERS: Henri Lavin, Taylor Gough, Ollie Ashworth, Jonny Law, Will Findlay, Joe Browning, Leo Gilliland, Freddie Steward, Johnny McPhillips, Toby Smith, Will Affleck, Levi Roper.
Freddie Steward – A well-rounded full-back who has all the prototypical physical skills to flourish in the role, as well as a good technical skill set to complement it. Leicester’s title-winning under-18 back three will all be in action, with Browning and Gilliland also selected.
LONDON IRISH: Jack Cooke, Phil Cokanasiga, Isaac Curtis-Harris (capt), Caolan Englefield, Fergus Guiry, Femi Sofolarin, Timi Olopade, Josh Smart, Ben Atkins, Gavin Dampies, Michael Dykes (London Irish U18s), Alex Harries.
Phil Cokanasiga – The younger brother of the Bath and England wing, Cokanasiga is a centre in XVs. Although he doesn’t boast quite the same gargantuan frame that his sibling does, his technical skill and command of the basics in the midfield single him out as a player of real promise.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS: Emmanuel Iyogun, Jack Hughes, Devante Onojaife, Tui Uru, Ollie Newman, Connor Tupai (capt), Josh Gillespie, Tommy Freeman, Tommy Matthews, Ethan Grayson (Northampton Saints U18s), Tom Litchfield (Northampton Saints U18s), Dani Long-Martinez (Northampton Saints U18s).
Josh Gillespie – Gillespie got a handful of senior appearances last season as an under-18 and even then, his speed and footwork allowed him to have success. With another year of experience and maturing, Gillespie could be a breakout star this year.
SALE SHARKS: Sam Moore, Rouban Birch, Curtis Langdon, Teddy Leatherbarrow, Luke James, Raffi Quirke, Tom Curtis, James Williams, Conor Doherty, Tom Roebuck, Joe Green (Yorkshire Academy), James Magee (Yorkshire Academy).
Tom Roebuck – The half-back pairing of Quirke and Curtis will be worth watching, but Roebuck’s mix of size and speed should see him do very well on the sevens pitch. If Sale can control the ball, Roebuck will hurt opposition teams.
SARACENS: Oliver Stonham, Andy Christie, Sean Reffell, Tobias Munday, Charlie Watson, Josh Hallett, Manu Vunipola, Elliott Obatoyinbo, Rotimi Segun, Ali Crossdale, Alex Day, Tom Whiteley (capt).
Oliver Stonham – The No8 was an effective ball-carrier and lineout target in the under-18 side last season and if he, Christie and Reffell can provide some physical punch up the middle, Saracens’ more elusive backs should prosper this weekend.
WASPS: Will Porter (v-capt), Gabriel Oghre, Sunni Jardine, Tim Cardall, Thibaud Flament, Ross Neal, Will Wilson (capt), Paolo Odogwu, Ben Vellacott (v-capt), Jacob Umaga, Callum Sirker, Zach Kibirige.
Will Wilson – There aren’t any first-year players in the Wasps side as they lean on a more experienced group, although mobile flanker Wilson, who recently spent time with the Griquas in South Africa, has an opportunity to put down a marker for senior selection this weekend.
WORCESTER WARRIORS: Caleb Montgomery, Louis Roach, Ashley Williams, Scott van Breda, Ollie Wynn, Gareth Simpson, Luke Scully, Nick David, Ollie Morris, Alex Hearle, Joel Medcraft, Isireli Sema.
Ollie Wynn – Wynn is still in Worcester’s under-18 side and the scrum-half will gain invaluable experience over the two days at the tournament. The Bromsgrove pupil will hope to follow in the footsteps of his namesake Ollie Lawrence and go from Bromsgrove to professional rugby at the Warriors.
WATCH: The RugbyPass chat with Johan Ackermann, Paul Gustard and Declan Kidney
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments