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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:02:04:10:37:15 by Kath..

Wednesday February 2, 2011
Issued by Simon Mills



Isoa Damudamu clinched victory in Wellington in 2009

England v Wales (Part One) kicks off on Friday morning on the opposite side of the world from the Millennium Stadium.

Ben Ryan’s England Sevens side lead the HSBC Sevens World Series after the first two legs and tackle the Welsh on the opening day of the NZI Sevens in Wellington - 11 hours before the RBS 6 Nations clash between the countries gets under way in Cardiff.

England, chasing a first ever sevens world title, top the table after December’s tournament win in Dubai and second place in George. They are out to emulate a dramatic 2009 triumph in Wellington, when Isoa Damudamu clinched victory with the last play in the final against the hosts.

To reach the knock out stages this time, they need to find a way past Friday’s Pool A opponents the USA (01.28 GMT) and the Cook Islands (04.24) before taking on Wales (08.34).

“Whatever happens in the future that 2009 win remains one of our top moments,” said Ryan. “It’s very easy to discard what’s happened in the past sometimes, but the guys in 2009 set the ball rolling for us.

“This year we’re fitter, we’ve had more contact time together and we’ve gelled more as a team. We’re in good shape as series leaders but we want to improve on two good peformances so far here in Wellington and the following week in Las Vegas.

“We’re all still annoyed at losing to New Zealand in the final at George. It’s something that rankles with us and this is our first chance to rectify that.”

England have made only one change for Wellington and Las Vegas with Nick Royle coming into the 12-man squad in place of the injured Ollie Lindsay-Hague (Harlequins).

But despite their status as series leaders, the opening day in Wellington throws up three tricky games – no more so than the potentially decisive clash with Wales.

“Wales are last up on the day and while we haven’t lost to them for three years they’ll be desperate to beat us here,” said Ryan. “They’ve got a consistent group of players and a settled group of management now and are much better for it.

“The Cook Islands have beaten all three of the sides in the group in the past and this is their Olympic Games. They’re dangerous and play a very off-the-cuff unstructured game.

“The other side, the USA, are very structured and professional and if they get their tails up they are very good and played well enough to hit one of the cup finals last year.”

England squad for Wellington and Las Vegas
Greg Barden (Royal Navy)
John Brake (England Sevens)
Dan Caprice (England Sevens)
Chris Cracknell(England Sevens)
Isoa Damudamu (British Army)
Ben Gollings (England Sevens, captain)
Simon Hunt (Birmingham & Solihull)
Dan Norton (Bristol Rugby)
Tom Powell (England Sevens)
James Rodwell (England Sevens)
Nick Royle (Fylde)
Mathew Turner (England Sevens)

Good Luck to England 7s today


Ben Gollings scored England's first try of the 2011 NZI Sevens in their Pool A victory against USA. Photo: IRB/Martin Seras Lima


NFL convert Miles Craigwell in action againsnt England on day one of the 2011 NZI Sevens. Photo: IRB/Martin Seras Lima


One to watch: Flyer Nick Royle returns and is the only change to England's World Series-leading squad

Sevens get off to perfect start in Wellington
Friday February 4, 2011
Issued by Simon Mills

James Rodwell in action against Wales in Wellington

Ben Ryan’s sevens team got the day off to a perfect start for England fans with a 33-7 win over Wales at the NZI Sevens in Wellington.

The HSBC Sevens World Series leaders topped Pool A following their victories against the Welsh, the USA (31-10) and the Cook Islands (21-17).

England now face Argentina in the quarter finals with Samoa or Fiji awaiting the winners at the Westpac Stadium.

Against Wales there were two tries for former Moseley forward James Rodwell and one apiece for ex-Northampton Saints scrum half John Brake and Bristol Rugby wing Dan Norton. Captain Ben Gollings added four conversions to extend his series points tally to 2,485.

“It was a very satisfying opening day and we really gelled against Wales,” said head coach Ryan.

“Argentina were battered by New Zealand in their final group game and we know they’ll bounce back strongly against us so we’ll have to be at our very best.”

Earlier England breezed past the USA with two more tries for Norton and one apiece for Simon Hunt (Birmingham Solihull), Dan Caprice and Gollings, who also kicked three conversions.

They stuttered early on against the flamboyant Cook Islands, who led 17-0 before being overhauled with two tries from Mathew Turner, one from Gollings and the captain’s three conversions.

HSBC Sevens World Series leaders England edged out by hosts in Wellington final
Saturday February 5, 2011
Issued by Simon Mills

HSBC Sevens World Series leaders England went down 29-14 to New Zealand in today’s final of the NZI Sevens in Wellington.

Isoa Damudamu (British Army) scored early on and Simon Hunt (Birmingham & Solihull) struck in the closing moments with Ben Gollings supplying the conversions.

But a Declan O’Donnell hat trick and scores from Tomasi Cama and Toby Arnold saw the hosts home.

The two sides are locked together at the top of the series rankings, with England still leading by virtue of having reached all three tournament finals so far this season.

And they now head for next weekend’s USA Sevens in Las Vegas determined to make amends for their Westpac Stadium setback.

Head coach Ben Ryan said: “There were a couple of cucial points, the key being early in the second half when New Zealand got the score that took them away from us, but we’re still top on finals reached and still No.1.

“It hurts losing here and we’ll be using this as ammunition to make sure we do a job next weekend. We’ll see how good we are in Law Vegas.”

Earlier England booked their place in the semi finals with a 14-7 win against Argentina.

Damudamu scored his first try of the tournament and Dan Norton his fourth before the break with Gollings’s two conversions taking England into a 14-0 interval lead.

But a Ramiro Moyano try made the last two minutes tense before England closed out the game.

Ryan’s men then edged out reigning series champions Samoa 7-5 at the semi final stage, John Brake’s try and a Gollings conversion seeing them home.