England set for HK defence

England Sevens coach Ben Ryan has named an exciting squad ahead of his side's defence of a Hong Kong title which has been theirs for the past four years.

"Hong Kong is like a home tournament for us as there is so much support from the crowd. However, there is also a great deal of pressure on us as defending champions," said Ryan. "I am under no illusion that every team we face will up their game as they try to beat us. I am excited about the squad we have named, particularly the two youngsters Tom Williams and Jack Adams."

Ryan has initially named a travelling squad of 13 players and will confirm his final 12 next week.

"There are some familiar faces back in the squad such as Dave Seymour and Danny Care who haven't played with us for a year, but there are also some talented newcomers who can't wait to show the Hong Kong crowd what they can do.

"Isoa Damudamu is just one name who I am confident the crowd, and the other teams, will be talking about by the end of the tournament. He has been an impressive figure on the invitational sevens circuit for the last two years. It is fantastic that he is now eligible for England and I am sure he will make a huge impact in what is the biggest tournament of the IRB Sevens. I can't begin to tell you how excited he is!"

England currently sit in fifth place in the Series standings, 24 points behind joint leaders Fiji and New Zealand.

While the rapier sharp rugby brain of captain Simon Amor remains an ever-present, the quick-fire backs that have always underpinned England's success on the circuit are not currently being made available.

Last year, for instance, Mike Friday had Tom Varndell, Dave Strettle, Mathew Tait and Dan Luger at his disposal in Hong Kong. This year Ryan and Amor will be hoping that one or two of the youngsters can step up and make a real name for themselves. "It's been a difficult, transitional year so far," Amor told Total Rugby. "We've had quite a few changes both in the management and in the players."

"I guess we're a victim of our own success to a certain extent but it does give opportunities to new guys to come and take on board all that Sevens has to offer." England captain Simon Amor on the fact that so many of the country's Sevens players are being fast-tracked in the senior team.

"We're looking very much at the youth coming through, balanced out with a few experienced heads and we're hoping that'll be the case both in Hong Kong and Adelaide - a mix of experience and potential. We think we've got it."

The Hong Kong event has, indeed, been a breeding ground for England's senior coaches over the last four years. No fewer than 14 of the 32 players to have played Sevens in Hong Kong during that time have gone on to play for the senior side. Add to that the likes of James Haskell, a recent graduate from the Sevens, and it becomes clear that England continues to benefit greatly from its investment in the shorter game.

Throughout those four Hong Kong triumps, though, the only ever-present has been captain Amor and, while he's been delighted to see the likes of Strettle, Tait and Haskell make the step up most recently, it's clear that it comes at a price for the Sevens set-up.

"It's been great from a Sevens perspective but it does make it hugely challenging to bring the guys on when the Sevens players are developing and excelling so quickly through the set-up. I guess we're a victim of our own success to a certain extent but it does give opportunities to new guys to come and take on board all that Sevens has to offer."

England Sevens squad of 13 for Hong Kong and Adelaide Sevens (final 12 next week):
Jack Adams (Gloucester)* Charlie Amesbury (NEC Harlequins) Simon Amor (London Wasps), captain, James Brooks (London Wasps) Danny Care (NEC Harlequins) Isoa Damudamu (Newbury RFC)* David Doherty (London Wasps)
Nils Mordt (London Irish) Tony Roques (Exeter Chiefs) Dave Seymour (Saracens) Ben Russell (Saracens) Tom Williams (NEC Harlequins) Andy Vilk (Sale Sharks) * uncapped

14 players to have graduated from the Hong Kong Sevens to the senior side in the past four years:
Geoff Appleford, Josh Lewsey, Phil Greening, Henry Paul, Jamie Noon, James Simpson-Daniel, Mike Stephenson, Peter Richards, Pat Sanderson, Dan Scarborough, Dan Luger, David Strettle, Mathew Tait, Tom Varndell

Statistical analysis provided by Hour Glass Vision

Scotland throw youth into HK cauldron

Scotland Sevens coach Stephen Gemmell, meanwhile, is without key members of the squads that performed heroics to turn around Scotland's season in Wellington and San Diego.

Calum Cussiter and Thom Evans do not travel to Hong Kong and Gemmell names a young squad, eight of the 12 members of the Academy.

Scotland squad for Hong Kong and Adelaide: Michael Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Addison* (Glasgow Warriors, Stirling County & West of Scotland Institute of Sport), Callum Anderson* (Border Reivers, Melrose & East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Sean Crombie* (Border Reivers, Aberdeen Grammar Rugby & Grampian Institute of Sport), Simon Cross (Edinburgh Rugby), Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Forrest* (Border Reivers & Hawick), Roddy Grant* (Border Reivers, Gala & East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Graham Hogg* (Border Reivers, Hawick & East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Jamie Hunter* (Glasgow Warriors, Hillhead/Jordanhill & West of Scotland Institute of Sport), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby), Colin White* (Glasgow Warriors, Ayr & West of Scotland Institute of Sport)

Source: www.irbsevens.com

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