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
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments