J.P. Morgan 7s: London Welsh 52-5 Leicester Tigers

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/video_audio/167444.html

Absolute caning! Weren't most of Welsh's players invitatationals though? How was Rees?

London Welsh's players were pro sevens players who aren't even contracted to them. While Leicester's players are mostly academy products.

No contest

London Welsh made it three bonus point wins from three to finish as winners of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series Pool B at Edgeley Park with a 52-5 win over Leicester with winger Ed Tellwright scoring four tries.


In a dress rehearsal for the opening weekend of the Aviva Premiership Welsh made the faster start as Tellwright found space out wide before racing around to dot down under the posts.
And the winger was on the hand again with his second of the evening, collecting a wide pass from Aaron Myers to go over on the left.

Leicester could have folded but instead they fought back with Tom Bellak twisting and turning his way to the line for his second try of the evening as the Exiles led 12-5.

But Welsh had the final say in the first half - the impressive Tellwright completing his hat-trick as he and Myers again combined to send the winger under the posts for a 19-5 half-time lead.

Tellwright was not done there - picking up where he had left off in the first half as he added try number four early in the second half.

The prolific winger took a well-earned rest but that didn't slow down the Exiles as Gerhard Wessells and Ben Seru went over in quick succession to stretch the lead out to 40-5.

Leicester clearly had nothing left to give and another break and quick hands saw Seru stopped just short but Rhodri McAtee went off the back of a ruck to add a seventh.

And there was just enough time for Seru to add his second of the match, a simple step doing for the flagging Leicester defence as he went over for a second of the game.

gowales wrote:London Welsh's players were pro sevens players who aren't even contracted to them. While Leicester's players are mostly academy products.

No contest

London Welsh captain Wells was the only LW player in the whole 12 man squad. The main bulk are pro 7 players and therefor favourites for the tournament.
The competition is looked at differently by each club - the likes of Tigers & Wasps use it as developmental for the academy players whereas the likes of Sarries & LI normally put in a fair few first team squad players.

I know LW were thrown in at the deep end for this competition but I personally would have liked to have seen more than one representative in their whole squad.
It's good to see the pros playing but they have their own competitions throughout the year & I would like to have seen a few LW lads playing in this traditional curtain raiser to the season.

If & when LW win the competition will this mean anything?

Does anyone have a link to the teams squad and the make up of the squads?

http://www.leicestertigers.com/news/14292.php

Leicester Tigers (JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens, Friday, July 20, Edgeley Park, kick-off 7.30pm)
1 Matt Cornwell (c)
2 Andy Symons
3 Alex Lewington
4 Luke Jones
5 Tom Hudson
6 Joe Cain
7 Harry Wells
8 George Oliver
9 Tom Bellak
10 Harrison Lee-Everton
11 Lawrence Wooldridge
12 Brock Davies

Sale Sharks: 1 Will Bordill, 2 Tom Cruse, 3 James Doyle, 4 Will Hafu, 5 Mark Easter (c), 6 Mark Jennings, 7 Jordan Davies, 8 Will Cliff, 9 Tom Brady, 10 Charlie Amesbury, 11 Johnny Leota, 12 Will Addison

Northampton Saints: 1 Ethan Waller, 2 Jack Allcock, 3 Darrell Waller, 4 Tom Collins, 5 Tom Stephenson, 6 Ryan Glynn, 7 Alex Wootton, 8 Alex Woolford, 9 Will Hooley, 10 Alex Day, 11 Anders Mogensen, 12 Howard Packman

London Welsh: 1 Ben Seru, 2 Gerhard Vessells, 3 Tom Rees, 4 Iolo Evans, 5 Michael Hills (c), 6 Peceli Nacamavuto, 7 Aaron Myers, 8 Rhys Howells, 9 Ed Tellwright, 10 Chris Banfield, 11 Rhodri McAtee, 12 Geraint Walsh

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:If & when LW win the competition will this mean anything?

Unfortunately, no.
I was surprised to hear that almost noone from LW are actually contracted to play for them. I had originally thought this comp was for the players who are part of the various clubs. Experienced, as with the team put out by London Irish, or younger as with the squad put out by Leicester. I suppose not. Or was an exception made in this case since London Welsh are still getting sorted?

OW are an extraordinarily exceptional side Doc.

doctor_grey wrote:

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:If & when LW win the competition will this mean anything?

Unfortunately, no.
I was surprised to hear that almost noone from LW are actually contracted to play for them. I had originally thought this comp was for the players who are part of the various clubs. Experienced, as with the team put out by London Irish, or younger as with the squad put out by Leicester. I suppose not. Or was an exception made in this case since London Welsh are still getting sorted?

I don't believe there are any rules regarding the use of unregistered players and therefor it is treated differently by different clubs. Unlike the old Middlesex Sevens where clubs could only field registered players for the following season.
I like the idea of using Academy players but the lack of rules governing the use of unregistered players JP Morgan have failed to apparently set down makes a mockery of the 'tournament' and should just be called an exhibition.

The counter argument of course would be that the clubs would be forced to extending the playing time of the overused first team squad players.

Oxford Welsh making a mockery again....

I think the score will be reversed on the opening day of the Premiership...

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:I don't believe there are any rules regarding the use of unregistered players and therefor it is treated differently by different clubs. Unlike the old Middlesex Sevens where clubs could only field registered players for the following season..........

Middlesex Sevens was exactly what I was thinking. I suppose the lack of rules do make this more of an exhibition, but would have liked to see registered players, even if only younger players or players who get less regular match time.

'London' 'Welsh' really are 'orrible!

The sooner they got their big comeuppance the better. Won't be long now.

Does anyone know how Iolo Evans did for them in the match?

Aaron Myers who plays for Westoe in Northern division 3?!?!?!?

Driver - RIP 606 wrote:Aaron Myers who plays for Westoe in Northern division 3?!?!?!?

Yes but was also part of the Newcastle Falcons 7s team last year when they won it, also he has played 7s for England.

I know him from West Hartlepool , have no idea what connection he'd have to LW.

Driver - RIP 606 wrote:I know him from West Hartlepool , have no idea what connection he'd have to LW.

I don't think he has. But he is a very good 7s player and was available........

I hope they just don't take the best players currently available to them

Mind you with signings such as Tom Arscott you doubt they will

Driver - RIP 606 wrote:I hope they just don't take the best players currently available to them

Mind you with signings such as Tom Arscott you doubt they will

He hasn't been signed by LW he was just invited to play for them like all but one of their 7s squad.

They know they're not allowed to use this selection policy in the Jeff, right?

Casartelli wrote:They know they're not allowed to use this selection policy in the Jeff, right?

Ah they''ll just threaten to take the RFU to court if they cant...

I didn't think I could dislike LW more until I read this thread....

First our premiership status now our 7s stars!

I can't stand these Welsh wannabes!

Also anyone notice Tom Rees played for Welsh?

Quite funny watching ITV4's coverage.They didnt like LW having "mercenaries".In professional sport?????Made me chuckle.

What is the point of entering and playing no (or one) players from your actual club? I dont understand that at all...

I'd rather not bother entering.

At least give some of your youngsters a run out....

Its just keeping up with the latest trends in crowd sourcing

Driver - RIP 606 wrote:Also anyone notice Tom Rees played for Welsh?

Yeah, how'd he play?

Coverage on itv now

I'm watching How to Train Your Dragon and I think I'll be outvoted if I ask to change

Bugger..!

That's pretty tough.

The commentators have mentioned a few of these lads as "trying to impress their new employers".

If the likes of Aaron Myres, Iolo Evans and Tom Rees have signed for london welsh they could do ok in the AP.

Tom Rees and Iolo look very good

Tom Rees has retired and is now going to med school

I'll watch the highlights on ITV player

Good thinking..!

gowales wrote:London Welsh's players were pro sevens players who aren't even contracted to them. While Leicester's players are mostly academy products.

No contest

Some players were invited, not all.

Leicester were just ridiculously poor, dropping passes, knocking on, poor attack missed tackles and gave away loads of penalties. Not just against Wales.

From the LW website,


Michael Hills will captain London Welsh as the club takes it bow in the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership 7s at Edgeley Park on Friday evening.

The London Welsh flanker, capped by England at 7s, will be no stranger to Edgeley Park having spent six seasons at the Sale Sharks, coming through the club’s Academy. He joined the Exiles in 2009 and has gone on to rack up over 70 appearances for Welsh in his three seasons at the club.

“Facing Sale, Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers is a huge challenge, but it’s a hugely exciting one,” said Hills. “It’s a tough Pool, but you want to challenge yourself against the top teams.

“Any time you walk on a rugby pitch it’s a chance to impress and I’m sure the whole team will want to take this opportunity to show their skills off. We’ll be going out there to play to the best of our ability and to enjoy it.”

The remainder of the London Welsh squad is made up of guests players with a host of 7s experience.

Last Friday at the Twickenham Stoop saw Harlequins and London Irish book their places in the Series Final at The Recreation Ground, Bath, on the evening of Friday 3rd August.

Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester Rugby and Worcester Warriors make up Pool C, which gets underway on Thursday 26th July at Kingsholm, Gloucester.

London Welsh J.P. Morgan 7s squad:
1. Ben Seru
2. Gerhard Vessells
3. Tom Rees
4. Iolo Evans
5. Michael Hills (Capt)
6. Peceli Nacamavuto
7. Aaron Myers
8. Rhys Howells
9. Ed Tellwright
10. Chris Banfield
11. Rhodri McAtee
12. Geraint Walsh

So all guest players except the captain who played for England 7s. Totally pointless.

Can't really see how its pointless when they won the group easily. Its not that different to Englands recruitment policy

Don't really understand all the bitterness towards London Welsh. They won their league and rightly believed they ought to be promoted. They appealed the original decision and won. They followed the process that was put in place but they're vilified for it.
Is it maybe because they're seen as a foreign side taking the place of an English team? Our do you think that any other sports team in their position would have just bent over and taken it from the RFU?

Mckay1402 you don't understand the bitterness towards London Welsh?

Just read the thread - Maestegmafia boasts about a "London Welsh" sevens side consisting of only one London Welsh player beating a Leicester team full of a bunch of players no one has heard of.

It's not really something to be puffing your chest out about. Leicester don't take the sevens seriously. It's a shame but it's their choice.


Let's see what happens to this invitational sevens guest side when they take on sides who actually field decent squads.

beshocked wrote:Mckay1402 you don't understand the bitterness towards London Welsh?

Just read the thread - Maestegmafia boasts about a "London Welsh" sevens side consisting of only one London Welsh player beating a Leicester team full of a bunch of players no one has heard of.

It's not really something to be puffing your chest out about. Leicester don't take the sevens seriously. It's a shame but it's their choice.


Let's see what happens to this invitational sevens guest side when they take on sides who actually field decent squads.

Stop stirring Beshocked

No one was boasting about anything. If you had paid attention to the event you would have seen that Tigers were smashed the same points difference by Sale Sharks RFC too.


That said this LW team beat Sale who do take this comp seriously.

It is great to see London welsh back in top flight English rugby. In the seventies this was one of London's most prolific clubs, in 71 they supplied seven players to the lions who beat the all blacks.

ChequeredJersey wrote:I'm watching How to Train Your Dragon and I think I'll be outvoted if I ask to change

Why train Dragons when you can hire full Pro ones?

'shocked,

Leicester don't take the sevens seriously. It's a shame but it's their choice.

I'd disagree with that, 'shocked. Sevens is a short-form variation vehicle suitable for pulling in new punters (like 20/Twenty) - but not the real deal.

And if 7's takes off could it end up (like with cricket) having the tail wagging the dog?

Stop stirring. How ironic.

If Sale were taking it seriously then why didn't they throw in some big guns?

I suppose it's all relative.

The seventies is a long time ago. It's like when England football fans go on about 66'. In the good ol' days.....

I am indifferent in regards to London Welsh. Just find it strange when Welsh fans jump on the "London" Welsh bandwagon.

Portnoy wrote:'shocked,

Leicester don't take the sevens seriously. It's a shame but it's their choice.

I'd disagree with that, 'shocked. Sevens is a short-form variation vehicle suitable for pulling in new punters (like 20/Twenty) - but not the real deal.

And if 7's takes off could it end up (like with cricket) having the tail wagging the dog?

How do you disagree? You think Leicester do take the Sevens seriously? The real deal.

You have to say you disagree even when we don't.




Putting it into perspective Maestegmafia I think the Quins,Saracens,London Irish sevens squads were all stronger than Sale.

Probably stronger than London Welsh too. Also worryingly enough not all the cards have been put on the table (well one side hasn't yet).

A deliberate miscontrivance of my words 'shocked?
Yet again.

It is not a shame that the Tigers don't take sevens seriously.

In my opinion it is a shame. Tigers don't need to go the LI route of throwing the best side they possibly can into the competition. A mixed side would be good though.

Who really wants to see their side being thumped 50-0?

Just chuck in a few England U20s etc.

Does anyone know how Iolo Evans did for them in the match?

He was excellent. If I was an LW coach I'd be looking at bringing him in for the 15 man team, he has plenty of power and pace.

Tom Rees has retired and is now going to med school

Think it's a different Tom Rees CJ, if it's not then I'm sure he didn't used to be ginger.

In my opinion it is a shame. Tigers don't need to go the LI route of throwing the best side they possibly can into the competition. A mixed side would be good though.

I was quite pleased actually. I don't really care about the 7s competition and we had some young guys show some good skills. Joe Cain the big second row rampaged his way past older players and showed great hands for a second row, Harry Wells (another lock) put in a teams worth of tackles on his own, Lewington made yards and looked good in another team he would have been a major talking point and Bellack looked like he knew how to find the try line. Ok, the trialists were a bit of a let down and a couple of the academy boys looked out of their depth (Symons was also awful) but losing the captain and only experienced player after the first game was always likely to hurt us. The young guys will have learnt plenty and will get to show what they've learnt for the academy, A Team and in the LV Cup.