Aussie Squad Named for London & Edinburgh Sevens

[Burgs]

Hey Em, might be your big chance for a Force jersey shot at the "Home" of Sevens!?

Aussie Squad Named for London & Edinburgh Sevens

May 18, 2007 - 1:53pm
Story by: ARU

Four Super 14 players have been called up by Australian Sevens coach Glen Ella to bolster the squad ahead of the final two tournaments in the iRB Sevens World Series in London and Edinburgh.

Brumbies Anthony Faingaa, Tim Wright and Luke Burgess will join Queensland Reds counterpart AJ Gilbert in the 12-man squad that will travel to London on Sunday.

Ella has maintained the nucleus of the team that stormed past South Africa in the Adelaide Sevens Plate Final with Ant Sauer, James Lew, Ben Lucas, Vili Ratu and Nathan Trist all earning a recall for the final two tournaments of the season.

Sauer will captain the side in the absence of Series skipper Tim Atkinson who is currently in Japan.

Randwick centre, Nick Cummins has also been retained and is the only player to have been in each of Glen Ella’s squads throughout the series.

Queensland’s Blair Connor returns to the squad after his successful showing in the Under 19s World Championship in Belfast last month, while former Australian Under 19s flyhalf Christian Lealiifano will make his Sevens debut in London.

After successful tournaments in Hong Kong and Adelaide, Glen Ella is expecting his team to continue their good form and push for a semi-final berth in both tournaments.

“This is a young squad but the players we have brought in are enthusiastic to get on the paddock and perform well,” Ella said.

“There’s a lot of ability in the squad and I’m expecting us to be pushing for a semi-final spot at both tournaments and finish the Series strongly.”

The squad departs for London on Sunday evening.

Australian Sevens Squad:

Player, D.O.B, Hometown/ Suburb

Luke Burgess, 20.08.83, Kingston, ACT (Waratahs/Brumbies)

Blair Connor, 29.09.88, Banyo, QLD

Nick Cummins, 05.10.87, Matraville, NSW

Anthony Faingaa, 02.02.87, Queanbeyan, NSW (Brumbies)

AJ Gilbert, 19.06.87, Dorrigo, NSW (Reds)

Christian Lealiifano, 24.09.87, Monash, ACT (Brumbies Academy)

James Lew, 18.03.83, Cammeray, NSW

Ben Lucas, 19.12.87, Mt Gravatt, QLD

Vili Ratu, 08.07.75, Heathcote, NSW

Ant Sauer (c), 18.09.80, Wooloowin, QLD

Nathan Trist, 22.12.82, Tamarama, NSW

Tim Wright, 23.11.82, Maroubra, NSW (Brumbies)

Coach: Glen Ella

Assistant Coach/Manager: Brian Melrose

Physiotherapist: Alan Davies


London Sevens – Day One:

Australia v Georgia @ 10:06am Saturday (7:06pm Saturday AEST)

Australia v Canada @ 1:12pm Saturday (10:12pm Saturday AEST)

Australia v Samoa @ 5:14pm Saturday (2:14am Sunday AEST)

Note: London is 7 (seven) hours behind AWST


Edinburgh Sevens – Day One:

Australia v Portugal @ 10:18am (7:18am Saturday AEST)

Australia v Kenya @ 1:24pm (10:24pm Saturday AEST)

Australia v Fiji @ 5:14pm (2:14am Sunday AEST)

Note: Edinburgh is 7 (seven) hours behind AWST


IRB Sevens World Series Sevens Standings (after round six):

Fiji 104

Samoa 94

New Zealand 90

South Africa 80

England 48

France 28

Australia 26

Scotland 18

Kenya 16

Wales 14

Tonga 10

Canada 8

Argentina 7

Tunisia 6

Portugal 2

USA 2

Russia 1

[Em-Forcer]

Hey Em, might be your big chance for a Force jersey shot at the "Home" of Sevens!?

Yeah - I might give it a shot. I will of course be wearing Scotland top but could pop Force polo on for a quick photo.

(I guess the true 'home' of sevens is Melrose; haven't been to the Melrose Sevens for years... now that's a grand day - and night - out!!!)

[Burgs]

I thought you might pick me up on that technicality
I'll meet you half way with "Home" on the IRB circuit