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England Sevens Squad for Hong Kong 2008
By Kath 18/3/08
March 18 2008
England Sevens squad for IRB World Sevens Series - Hong Kong and Adelaide 2008. Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens Pool fixtures: March 28 – England v Canada, KO 8:38pm (local time, GMT+8) March 29 – England v Sri Lanka, KO 11:58am (local time, GMT+8) March 29 – Samoa v England, KO 6:34pm (local time, GMT+8)

England Sevens Squad for Hong Kong 2008

 

NOAH Cato (Saracens) is one of five England Under 20 Grand Slam winners to be selected in the England Sevens team for the world's most prestigious Sevens tournament, the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens on the 28, 29 & 30 March.

 

Nineteen-year-old Cato, who scored six tries in five matches in this year's Under 20 Six Nations tournament will be joined by fellow winners John Brake (Northampton Saints), Matthew Cox (Worcester), Jonathan Fisher (London Irish) and Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) as England Sevens coach Ben Ryan bids to bring some of their winning form to the world Sevens stage.

 

Also included in the 12 man squad are former Hong Kong 7s champions Ben Gollings (Sunnybank) - Sevens all time top points scorer, and captain Andy Vilk (Sale Sharks), as well as Anthony Elliott (Bristol Rugby) and Simon Hunt (Ebbw Vale), who have both taken part in all legs of this year's IRB World Sevens Series.

 

Said Ryan, "This squad shows the mix England is looking to select. Our experience comes with Gollings and Vilk as well as Simon Hunt who is the only player to have played over ten IRB World Series tournaments.

 

"Our youth and development is provided by the bulk of the squad notably five of the current U20 squad. Our average age is under 22 and these are the next generation that will benefit hugely by playing in such a massive event. It shows sevens is part of the process to develop players for England's future senior squads and the emergence of Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Foden (Sale Sharks), Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby) and Tom Guest (Harlequins) from this season's squad show we're another aid for improvement within the elite game.

 

"For me sevens is part of our overall strategy to get the best out of our young players and together with age group excellence, premiership academies and the Saxons, sevens is often part of that package to accelerate and achieve more England players ready to step into regular premiership action and beyond.

 

"Hong Kong is an awesome event, I know I have a side that will crawl off the field for England. This group will give their all for the cause and although we go into this tournament as huge underdogs everyone here is determined to do the white shirt and the red rose justice."

 

England Sevens squad for IRB World Sevens Series

Hong Kong and Adelaide:

 

Kevin Barrett (Exeter)

John Brake (Northampton Saints)

Noah Cato (Saracens)

James Collins (Worcester Warriors)

Matthew Cox (Worcester Warriors)*

Anthony Elliott (Bristol Rugby)

Jonathan Fisher (London Irish)*

Ben Gollings (Sunnybank)

Simon Hunt (Ebbw Vale)

Chris Mayor (Sale Sharks)

Andy Vilk (Sale Sharks, captain)

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)*

 

*denotes uncapped for England Sevens

 

England Sevens 2007/8 has seven core contracted players of which six are unavailable, Andy Vilk is available:

 

Ben Foden (Sale Sharks) - Has just returned from four months injury (shoulder) so is continuing his comeback with club.

Isoa Damudamu (British Army/Newbury) - Injured (shoulder).

Danny Care (Harlequins) - Starting for Harlequins.

Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby) - Playing in European Challenge Cup quarter final for Bath.

Dominic Shabbo (London Irish) - Injured (hamstring).

Ryan Davis (Bath Rugby) - Injured (acl).

 

 


 


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England Sevens Squad for Hong Kong 2008
Posted by: Unofficial England Rugby Union (IP Logged)
Date: 18/03/2008 17:09

England Sevens Squad for Hong Kong 2008

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Re: England Sevens Squad for Hong Kong 2008
Posted by: Slater582 (IP Logged)
Date: 18/03/2008 20:11

After reading the first few lines I was hoping to see Hugo Ellis down so we could cap him...

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Re: England Sevens Squad for Hong Kong 2008
Posted by: Blue_Rose (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2008 11:06

where can you purchase a sevens jersey they are outstanding!!

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Re: England Sevens Squad for Hong Kong 2008
Posted by: MikeGC (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2008 11:44

Falcons club shop has one very similar (Sm100)

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Re: England Sevens Squad for Hong Kong 2008
Posted by: Slater582 (IP Logged)
Date: 27/03/2008 14:27

I see he's injured but what position does Ryan Davis play for Bath?

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Re: England Sevens Squad for Hong Kong 2008
Posted by: Battering Ram Winger (IP Logged)
Date: 28/03/2008 09:12

I wonder if we'll bother turning up given the woeful lack of investment by the RFU into 7s these days.

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Seven questions for Ben Youngs
Posted by: Kath. (IP Logged)
Date: 28/03/2008 09:26

March 28, 2008

Seven questions for Ben Youngs

RFU.com catches up with Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) to find out a little more about the 18-year-old ahead of his debut for England Sevens at the world famous Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens which takes place on the 28-30 March.

Do you have any pre match rituals?

I always put my right boot on first, I don’t know why but it’s just become a habit and I don’t want to change it just in case it brings me bad luck!

What would you be doing if you weren’t playing rugby?

I would still be at school probably in sixth form or travelling.

Eating out or cinema?

Cinema as you don’t have to make much of an effort and you get to eat popcorn!

What is the most interesting city/place you have visited?

It would have to be Hong Kong, it’s such a fast paced city with lots to see and do I love the hustle and bustle.

Who is the most interesting person you have met and why?

It would have to be Bruce Lockhart because he makes me laugh every time I see him. He’s one of my Dad’s friends, they met when they were both playing rugby, Bruce played for Scotland and my Dad for England.

What was the last film you watched?

It wasn’t really a film, it was a box set of Prison Break Season 2 – I love that show!

Who would you most like to meet?

Tom Hanks, I think he’s a great actor. I admire his work and I love every film he has made, he also looks like he would be a laugh on a night out.


Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens Pool fixtures:

March 28 – England v Canada, KO 8:38pm (local time, GMT+8)
March 29 – England v Sri Lanka, KO 11:58am (local time, GMT+8)
March 29 – Samoa v England, KO 6:34pm (local time, GMT+8)

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