Team GB for Sevens

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19878581


Very interesting article but I worry that it sounds like the beginnings of a power struggle in getting a joined up home unions Sevens team together. Just hope it doesn't drag out into the mammoth struggle the Team GB football team became.

Judging by these quotes there is already some posturing going on:

"We [England] are the only team in the home nations that has hit the top four in the last few years. (England have finished third for the past two years)"

"So we are a likely candidate to be a very important vehicle for GB to get to the Olympic Games. After that point is perhaps when you might start to think about how the GB team gets put together."

Who are the current IRB Rugby World Cup 7's champs

Seriously, it's interesting/weird that the performance of Wales/England/Scotland will secure (or not) Team GB's slot at the Olympics

There will be no test stars anywhere near the squad. It will all be 7's players.

GeordieFalcon wrote:There will be no test stars anywhere near the squad. It will all be 7's players.

GF,

I would hope that something was put in place that test stars couldn't just be jettisoned in. If I was a 7s player who regulalry represented my country on the 7s circuit I would be mighty pd off if an Ashton or North etc was picked over me.

Totally agree mate....

But i dont think they will be picked anyway. I think they'll be loyal to the squads that play all the 7's comps....
Britiain should be able to challenge for Gold with the players in the surrent 7's squads from Wales, England and Scotland.

I don't see why there would be as many problems as the football.

Afterall England,Wales and Scotland have teamed up numerous times in the British and Irish Lions.

As long as the best GB side is picked it doesn't matter what the representation. Same as will be the case next year with the Lions.

Of course we all want to see more of our country's players but we need to look at maximising our chances of winning.

There's no way non-sevens specialists should get anywhere near the Olympic squad. It's a completely different game and muscle mary types used to training for stamina and contact are not suited for it.

Assuming that that IRB 7s rules apply (meaning that there are 12 squad players and 2 management permitted) to the Olympics squads, there are no 15 a side players I would have over the following:

1. Mat Turner (England)
2. Colin Gregor (Scotland)
3. Dan Norton (England)
4. Tom Mitchell (England)
5. Alex Walker (Wales)
6. James Fleming (Scotland)
7. Richard Smith (Wales)

Bench:
8. Richie Pugh (Wales)
9. Rob Vickerman (England)
10. Andrew Turnbull (Scotland)
11. Christian Lewis-Pratt (England)
12. Owen Williams (Wales)

We could really kick @rse with that squad.

Incidentally, I am assuming that most people don't really know much about and/or give three kinds of cr@p about 7s.
My previous post on the Olympic 7s team gained precisely one comment (big shout to Scarlets Spiderman )

Are Ireland (IRFU) bothering with a Sevens side for the Olympics seeing as they don't have one normally - would they have to start one now to gain qualifying points ?

good post George!

can't wait to see the 7s at the Olympics, it'll fit right in with athletic ability, team work and speed...lots of it

damage_13 wrote:good post George!

can't wait to see the 7s at the Olympics, it'll fit right in with athletic ability, team work and speed...lots of it

Why wait until 2016, Its on this weekend.

I don't like 7s. Former front row players normally don't.