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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2012:05:21:15:43:45 by Kath..

Dan Norton commits future to England Sevens

Issued by Simon Mills



England Sevens wing Dan Norton


LEADING try scorer Dan Norton has committed himself to England Sevens after signing a new deal with the national side.

The former Gloucester and Bristol wing has scored 33 tries so far in this season’s HSBC Sevens World Series with two more events to come – in Glasgow (May 5-6) and at the Marriott London Sevens (May 12-13).

His tally is six more than his nearest global rivals, New Zealand’s Frank Halai and Samoa’s Paul Perez.

The 24 year-old from Bristol – arguably the fastest man on the world sevens circuit – has scored 81 tries in his international career with only Ben Gollings (220), Richard Haughton (106) and Rob Thirlby (101) ahead of him on England’s all-time list.

“I know there are several clubs who wanted to have him on board, so we’re delighted to have secured his services,” said Head Coach Ben Ryan.

“Dan’s made excellent progress this season, worked hard all over the pitch and deserves the praise that’s come his way for the tries he’s scored. Every coach in the series would love to have him on their side.

“We’re in the second year of our full-time sevens programme now and the benefits are showing throughout the squad in terms of the individual development of each player and the collective understanding of how we want to play.”

Norton said: “I’m really happy to be able to continue what I’m doing. I enjoy the set-up, working with all the players and coaches and the team spirit is great.

“Finishing this season on a high at Glasgow and Twickenham is the immediate goal. Beyond that the next ambitions are to win the HSBC Sevens World Series with England and the Sevens World Cup next summer.

“Going full-time with sevens this season has meant it’s been easy to concentrate on specific parts of my game, and the extra contact time we have has helped our understanding of the game and built a really strong team culture.”

England are fourth in the HSBC Sevens World Series going into the final two legs of the global series.

They face Kenya, the USA and Australia in the pool stages of the Glasgow Sevens stages on May 5-6 with Ryan due to name his squad at the start of next week.

HSBC Sevens World Series Rankings (top 6): 1 New Zealand 128, 2 Fiji 122, 3 South Africa 105, 4 England 104, 5 Samoa 101, 6 Australia 84.

Mark Odejobi added to England Sevens squad
Sunday April 29, 2012
Issued by Simon Mills

Mark Odejobi (right) got to grips with the Observer's Mike Aylwin when England trained with the media last week

Mark Odejobi has been added to the England Sevens squad preparing for the final two legs of the HSBC Sevens World Series.

The former London Wasps and England Under 20 wing comes into the 14-man group for the Glasgow Sevens and Marriott London Sevens after Isoa Damudamu withdrew through injury.

Damudamu dislocated a kneecap playing for the Army in Saturday’s Babcock Trophy win against the Royal Navy at Twickenham.

Odejobi, a student at Brunel University, appeared in the Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Adelaide legs of last season’s HSBC Sevens World Series and has trained with England this term after recovering from Achilles injury.

England face Kenya, the USA and Australia on the opening day of the Glasgow Sevens on May 5-6 before the season finale at the Marriott London Sevens on May 12-13.

England Sevens: Dan Bibby (UWIC), John Brake, Chris Brightwell, Chris Cracknell, Sam Edgerley (Rosslyn Park), Simon Hunt, Tom Mitchell (Oxford University), Dan Norton, Mark Odejobi (Brunel University), Tom Powell, James Rodwell, Mathew Turner, Rob Vickerman, Andy Vilk (Rugby Lions).

You can buy tickets for the Marriott London Sevens via RFU.com, with weekend tickets from £30, with single day tickets from £18 and kids tickets from £5 each day.

England make three changes in squad for Glasgow Sevens
Wednesday May 2, 2012
Issued by Simon Mills


Dan Bibby is set to win his first cap after being named in the England squad for this weekend’s penultimate leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Glasgow.

The UWIC playmaker heads for his first tournament with former England Under 20 wing Mark Odejobi in the squad for the first time this season and Chris Cracknell returning from injury.

The three changes from the last leg in Tokyo see them take over from Harlequins wing Charlie Walker, injured playmaker Christian Lewis-Pratt and former captain Greg Barden, who has retired.

England Students full back Bibby, 21, has trained with the squad all season and the former Fylde player impressed for Sale Sharks last summer when named Player of the Tournament at the Edgeley Park leg of the JP Morgan Premiership Sevens.

Odejobi ruptured an Achilles tendon last year and spent six months in rehab before rejoining the group in January while Cracknell had been ever-present in the squad this season before sitting out the last leg of the series in Tokyo with a shoulder injury.

“Dan Bibby’s an exciting talent who’s definitely one for the future and he’s trained with us throughout the season, including appearing in our warm-up tournament in Spain on the eve of the series,” said head coach Ben Ryan.

“It’s been a long road back for Mark Odejobi who played for us last season. He’s worked very hard to get fit and he’s trained well to keep out two very experienced sevens players in [former captain] Andy Vilk and Simon Hunt. It’s great to have Chris Cracknell back after missing him in Tokyo too.”

England are fourth in the series going into the final two legs at Scotstoun in Glasgow – a new venue – and the Marriott London Sevens at Twickenham (May 12-13).

They face Kenya, the USA and Australia on Saturday in the pool stages with Ryan eager for his fourth-placed side to finish on a high in a competitive series in which New Zealand, Fiji, England, Samoa and Australia have all won individual tournaments.

“We’re pretty excited about the next two legs, the squad has trained well and we want to finish well and start building towards next season,” said Ryan

“It’s always good to come to a new venue – the latest great world city to be added to the series. It’ll be well organised by Scotland, and we’re expecting a great atmosphere and energetic support.”

England Sevens: Dan Bibby (UWIC), John Brake, Chris Brightwell, Chris Cracknell, Sam Edgerley (Rosslyn Park), Tom Mitchell (Oxford University), Dan Norton, Mark Odejobi (Brunel University), Tom Powell, James Rodwell, Mathew Turner, Rob Vickerman.

HSBC Sevens World Series standings (top six): 1 New Zealand 128 pts, 2 Fiji 122, 3 South Africa 105, 4 England 104, 5 Samoa 101, 6 Australia 84

You can buy tickets for the Marriott London Sevens via RFU.com, with weekend tickets from £30, with single day tickets from £18 and kids tickets from £5 each day.