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Fans enjoy the sunshine at last weekend's London Sevens



After last weekend's record breaking Emirates Airline London Sevens the England Sevens squad head to Edinburgh this weekend to fight it out to become Scotland champions.

The last leg of the IRB Sevens World Series is the decider in who will be crowned overall Series winners. Samoa are still leading with 140 points followed by New Zealand, Fiji and last week's London winners Australia.

England are currently in fifth place and after dropping out of their home event in the cup quarter final against South Africa and losing the plate semi final to New Zealand they go into Edinburgh with a point to prove.

England Sevens Captain and IRB 2010 7s Player of the Year nominee Ben Gollings said, "We never got out of the blocks against South Africa which was disappointing as it was a game that was very winnable for us.

"The New Zealand game was a chance to put things right but you can't fault the effort from the boys to pick themselves up and we were, maybe, a couple of inches away from winning that game.
"Hopefully we can learn from that and take it into Edinburgh."

Despite England falling short the fans were out in force, a new crowd record was set with over 75,000 supporters gathering over the weekend and on Sunday Twickenham Stadium was packed with superheroes as 1091 people broke the Guinness World Recordâ?¢, Sponsored by Broil King, for the Largest Gathering of Superheroes.

Not only is Edinburgh the last leg of this season's Series it also marks the countdown to this year's Commonwealth Games, which takes place in Delhi in October.

With a place in the Great Britain Sevens squad up for grabs Ryan's men will be putting their hands up for selection this weekend.

"Things haven't always gone our way this season and we have a tough pool with Portugal, Canada and Australia so I don't think we will be looking any further than that but with October's Commonwealth Games on everyone's minds I'm sure the boys will be going all out to impress." said Gollings.

England Sevens squad for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens:

Greg Barden (Royal Navy)
Kevin Barrett (Saracens)
Chris Brightwell (Bedford)
Ben Gollings (capt, Gold Coast, Australia)
Oliver Lindsay-Hague (Harlequins)
Tom Powell (Unattached)
James Rodwell (Moseley)
Nick Royle (Fylde)
Mat Turner (Bristol Rugby)
Tom Varndell (London Wasps)*
Rob Vickerman (Newcastle Falcons)
Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons)*

*Denotes England Saxons player

Don't wish to appear picky, but surely the British nations compete individually at the Commonwealth games. i.e. these England players will be hoping to be included in the England team in Delhi.


We are the angry mob. We read the papers every day. We like who we like, we hate who we hate, but we're also easily swayed.

Amended version Record breaking Emirates Airline London Sevens

Please note that Tom Varndell (London Wasps) is being rested for the 2010 Churchill Cup and has been replaced by Uche Odouza (Unattached) for this weekend's Edinburgh Sevens.

England Sevens squad for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens:

Greg Barden (Royal Navy)
Kevin Barrett (Saracens)
Chris Brightwell (Bedford)
Ben Gollings (capt, Gold Coast, Australia)
Oliver Lindsay-Hague (Harlequins)
Uche Odouza (Unattached)
Tom Powell (Unattached)
James Rodwell (Moseley)
Nick Royle (Fylde)
Mat Turner (Bristol Rugby)
Rob Vickerman (Newcastle Falcons)
Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons)*


*Denotes England Saxons player

England Sevens stutter against Canada



Nick Royle scores for England Sevens



England Sevens 19-24 Canada

England lose in a stuttered performance against Canada in their second pool match of the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens.

Despite tries from Uche Odouza (Unattached), James Rodwell (Moseley) and Nick Royle (Fylde) England struggled to hold Canada from taking victory.

Ben Ryan's men were down to six in the first half after Newcastle's Rob Vickerman was sent to the sin bin. Canada taking their opportunity to score a converted try from Conor Trainor put them ahead.

Odouza's five points before half time was a welcome break for England but a second half try put them 14-5 behind after Canada intercepted a Chris Brightwell (Bedford) offload to go in under the posts.

Replacement Nick Royle (Flyde) lifted England's spirits, bursting through midfield, to match Canada's effort but was denied from the restart, referee Laurent Cardona (France) waving his second try away to leave the score at 12-14.

Rodwell took his chance as support on the right wing after receiving a Tom Powell (Unattached) offload for Ben Gollings (Gold Coast) to put his side 19-14 ahead with the conversion.

But in the last two minutes England lost their way and conceded two soft tries for Canada to take victory 24-19.
England 17-5 Portugal

Earlier England beat Portugal 17-5 in their Edinburgh opener with tries from Mat Turner (Bristol) and second half replacements Royle and Oliver Lindsay-Hague (Harlequins). Gollings slotted the conversion.

England face last weekend's Emirates Airline London Sevens champions Australia in their last pool match at 6.39pm.

England Sevens: Greg Barden (Royal Navy), Kevin Barrett (Saracens), Chris Brightwell (Bedford), Ben Gollings (capt, Gold Coast, Australia), Oliver Lindsay-Hague (Harlequins), Uche Odouza (Unattached), Tom Powell (Unattached), James Rodwell (Moseley), Nick Royle (Fylde), Mat Turner (Bristol Rugby), Rob Vickerman (Newcastle Falcons), Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons)

Scorers: Tries: Odouza, Royle, Rodwell; Cons: Gollings (2)

Saturday May 29, 2010
Issued by Jessica Chambers

England Sevens 21 - 21 Australia

England Sevens are through to the cup quarter final after a 21-21 draw with Australia at the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens.

A flying start from England saw them put last week's 38-5 home loss to the London champions behind them.

Well worked converted tries from Ben Gollings (Gold Coast Breakers), Uche Odouza (Unattached) and Mat Turner (Bristol) saw England with a 21 point lead.

But a poor restart from Gollings gave Australia possession, Samisoni Latunipulu scoring under the posts to go in at the break with seven points on the board.

England spent much of the second half defending. Australia adding to their account with another try under the posts to take them within a converted try.

And after Gollings kicked into touch in the last seconds a quickly taken Australia lineout deep in England's half saw them power over, James Stannard adding the extras for the draw.

England will face hosts Scotland in the cup quarter final at 11.55am

England Sevens coach Ben Ryan said, "We are facing a resurgent Scotland side tomorrow, they've played well today and they are at home with their home support behind them.

"The players have played Australia in Adelaide and New Zealand in Wellington so they know what to expect.

"We've had some luck today, with Portugal beating Canada meaning we still had a chance to get into the cup. We had a 21 point lead on Australia and we should have closed them out so we need to learn from that."

England Sevens: Tom Powell (Unattached), Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons), James Rodwell (Moseley), Uche Odouza (Unattached), Rob Vickerman (Newcastle Falcons), Ben Gollings (capt, Gold Coast, Australia), Mat Turner (Bristol Rugby)

Replacements: Greg Barden (Royal Navy), Nick Royle (Fylde),Oliver Lindsay-Hague (Harlequins)

Scorers: Tries: Gollings, Odouza, Turner; Cons: Gollings (3)

England's Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens results:

England 17-5 Portugal
England 19-24 Canada
Australia 21-21 England