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Phillips shortlisted for IRB Sevens Player of the Year

England Sevens captain Ollie Phillips has been shortlisted for the IRB Sevens Player of the Year award.

Phillips, who inspired England to their first ever cup success in Wellington in February and a first win in five years last weekend at the London Sevens will find out if he has won the prestigious award on Sunday night after the conclusion of the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens (May 30 & 31).

Nominated alongside Phillips is one Fijian, two Kenyans and two South Africans. All six players, shortlisted and voted on by the team management of the 12 core teams in the IRB Sevens World Series, are due to play at Murrayfield this weekend.

Said Phillips: "It would be a massive honour to be named Sevens Player of the Year. It would cap off a great season.

"There is no bigger honour then to lead your country, we have been successful this season and we will take away some amazing memories.

"If we go to Murrayfield and do the same as we did last week in London then that would be fantastic and I hope the fans come out in force to support us."

IRB Sevens Player of the Year nominations:

Ollie Phillips (England)
Renfred Dazel (South Africa)
Collins Injera (Kenya)
Humphrey Kayange (Kenya)
Mpho Mbiyozo (South Africa)
Emosi Vucago (Fiji)

Congratulations to Fiji winnint the Scotland 7s

and

Congratulations to South Africa winning the Overall Series.

England came in second.



Overall Standings Team DUB GEO NZL USA HKG AUS LON SCO Total points


South Africa 20 20 8 12 24 20 12 0 116

England 16 8 20 16 8 8 20 0 96
Fiji 12 12 4 4 30 12 8 0 82
New Zealand 12 16 16 8 8 4 16 0 80
Argentina 4 12 12 20 8 12 0 0 68
Kenya 6 0 12 6 18 16 2 0 60
Samoa 8 4 0 4 18 2 0 0 36
Australia 4 0 0 2 8 6 4 0 24
USA 0 4 4 12 0 0 0 0 20
Portugal 2 6 0 0 1 0 6 0 15
Scotland 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 12
Wales 0 0 6 0 2 4 0 0 12
France 0 2 0 0 2 0 4 0 8
Tonga 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4
Canada 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3
Cook Islands 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2
Arabian Gulf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Russia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tunisia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Uganda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

England Sevens take the bowl
Sunday May 31, 2009

France 15-26 England

England finish third in the IRB Sevens World Series and collect the bowl at the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens.

Ben Ryan's squad slipped to third place on 98 points behind Edinburgh winners Fiji on 102 and South Africa on 132 in the overall Series results.

Led by Ollie Phillips England have capped a successful season at Murrayfield after claiming the Wellington and London cups, winning the George and Adelaide plates and reaching the Dubai and San Diego finals.

Said Phillips: "We've had a fantastic season and coming third in the IRB Series is a massive achievement. South Africa have been dominant all season and are worthy winners.

"Yesterday was very disappointing but we had to come back today and get on with it and win the bowl and that's what we did."

England came from behind against France through Uche Oduoza, who finished as the tournaments joint-top try scorer, with sevens tries. Odouza along with James Rodwell and Phillips all crossed the line, Phillips adding the extras for the win.

France were ahead going into the break, 10-7 but were down to six men after Marc Andreu was red carded for head butting Micky Young.

England came back in the second half to take full advantage, Rodwell crossing over to take England ahead, 14-10. France answered back from the restart to take themselves just one point behind, 14-15.

But a 70 metre sprint from Oduoza saw the powerful winger charge over to put England on 19.

After some France pressure in their own half England's Rodwell stole a France lineout ball to send England flying towards their line and captain Phillips had the last say, potting the ball between the posts and converting to take the bowl, winning 26-15.

England: Greg Barden (Royal Navy), Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons), Kevin Barrett (Exeter Chiefs), James Rodwell (Moseley RFC), Neil Starling (Northampton Saints), Uche Oduoza (Unattached), Ollie Phillips (Newcastle Falcons)

Replacements: Tom Biggs (Leeds Carnegie)

England scorers: Tries: Oduoza (2), Rodwell, Phillips;
Conversions: Phillips (3).

England results:

England 17-33 Scotland
England 26-12 Canada
Kenya 21-14 England
Bowl quarter final England 31-7 Georgia
Bowl semi final England 31-7 Portugal
Bowl final France 15-26 England

Bit of a disappointing final leg.

South Africa were clearly the best this season, deserved winners. At all levels their rugby seems in excellent health.

Second is a decent job by England, I'd like to see a few more young promising players tried out next year.