Team England has today announced the 26 Rugby Sevens athletes representing the host country across the men’s and women’s teams, at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
England Women will be looking to further their success this summer after their recent Europe Trophy Series wins in Budapest and Zagreb last month.
The selected squad features three of the bronze medal winning team from the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast; Abbie Brown, Meg Jones and Amy Wilson Hardy as well as four 2020 Tokyo Olympians. Brown and Jones will co-captain the group.
The men’s team also won bronze in the Gold Coast at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and recently took home a silver medal in the Europe Trophy Series, narrowly losing out to Ireland in the Final. The squad includes several core Sevens players alongside those who represented England on the World Series last season with Olympian and Captain, Alex Davis leading the squad.
Tom Bowen, who earned his 50th England Sevens cap in the World Sevens Series event in Malaga in January is also included in Tony Roques’ squad.
The athletes announced to represent Team England are:
Women
Ellie Boatman
Abbie Brown (CC)
Heather Cowell
Grace Crompton
Merryn Doidge
Meg Jones (CC)
Alicia Maude
Isla Norman-Bell
Celia Quansah
Jade Shekells
Lauren Torley
Emma Uren
Amy Wilson Hardy
Men
Jamie Adamson
Api Bavadra
Tom Bowen
Blake Boyland
Jamie Barden
Max Clementson
Alex Davis (C)
Tom Emery
Will Homer
Hayden Hyde
Charlton Kerr
Calum Randle
Freddie Roddick
Women’s co-captain Brown said: “With it being a home tournament, you can sense the excitement and the build-up increasing. So many friends and family members are coming to watch which is brilliant for Team England.
“There’s a real buzz around it for us as a squad with the aim of going out and achieving gold. We’re all working hard in camps to prepare for our World Cup qualifier and then Birmingham 2022. We’re all hugely honoured to go out there and represent Team England.”
Men’s captain Davis said: “I’m delighted to be selected for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer. I have many special memories from our competition in the Gold Coast in 2018 but the thrill of representing Team England in a home Games is huge. It’s going to be an amazing spectacle that I know all of the players are buzzing for.
“We’ve had a really exciting season and this a huge part of our aim to ‘cultivate greatness’. The majority of the squad will be competing in their first Games, which is a brilliant achievement. I’m really proud of their efforts to get to this point.”
Team England’s Chef de Mission, Mark England OBE, welcomed the Rugby Sevens players to the team: “After a successful Gold Coast Games in 2018 with both the men’s and women’s teams winning bronze, I am looking forward to seeing how our 2022 Sevens cohort can further their success in Birmingham. It is an honour to welcome such an exciting and talented group of individuals to Team England and no doubt fans will get behind them at Coventry Stadium this summer.”
With thanks to the RFU
Congratulations everyone and a special shout-out to our granddaughter Isla Norman-Bell.