The ninth and final round of the HSBC Sevens World Series comes to England this weekend with the Marriott London Sevens to be played at Twickenham Stadium on 12th and 13th May 2012.
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The England squad, coached by Ben Ryan, comes into the tournament after a final defeat in Glasgow on Sunday against HSBC Sevens World Series leaders New Zealand. The team will include Mat Turner who was this week shortlisted as a contender for the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year award.
The former Bristol wing faces competition from two New Zealanders – half back Tomasi Cama and wing Frank Halai – for the accolade, which will be presented after the London tournament.
As Glasgow champions, New Zealand top Pool A and face matches against Argentina, Russia and Kenya. Glasgow runners-up England head Pool B on home soil and will take on Samoa, France and USA on day one. New Zealand’s closest Series rivals, Fiji, were drawn top of Pool C and will play Wales, Spain and Zimbabwe. Finally, Australia head Pool D and face a tough trio of matches against South Africa, Scotland and Portugal.
Rob Vickerman will not be the only captain leading out England on home soil.
Michaela Staniford, captain of the England Women’s Sevens side, will also have the privilege of running out on to the hallowed Twickenham turf as the third IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup takes place alongside the men’s competition.
England have reached the final in both of the previous IRB sanctioned events, in Dubai where they lost to Canada, before proving too strong for Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Australia to lift the trophy in Hong Kong after an enthralling 15-10 victory.
