This is the squad of thirteen for the Madrid 7s:
Abbie Brown (captain), Lauren Torley, Emma Uren, Isla Norman-Bell, Megan Jones, Jasmine Joyce, Amy Wilson Hardy, Ellie Boatman, Ellie Kildunne, Rhona Lloyd, Kayleigh Powell, Jade Shekels, Heather Cowell.
You can take your pick of the biggest news, but here’s mine:
Abbie Brown returns from injury to become the sole captain. Despite the belated return of Meg Jones, the feature of co-captains is dropped.
The addition of Jones and Kildunne would have made for far more explosive news if either of them had been omitted. When we consider the number of current Red Roses who have a background in Sevens, it’s almost a surprise that only those two have opted to make the switch. Not for the last time the clash between 15s and 7s makes for awkward choices; the chance of an Olympic medal in Paris against a World Cup Trophy next year. Both are possible, but unlikely.
Bodies will be tired after a gruelling Six Nations and eighteen rounds of the PWR or a long HSBC World Series. Meanwhile the WS has had to make do without the presence of so much talent in the England squad. GB’s current position of eighth in world standings tells its own story. Their chances of a medal remain slim, but the addition of the two 6N trophy winners improves them.
It’s good to see the squad still retaining two Welsh and one Scottish player. That is very important if the title GB is to retain its proper meaning.
The venue, the Cívitas Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, will be a fitting stage for the final round of the World Series. The car park alone looks big enough to swallow several dozen rugby pitches and still feel hungry.
Dates: 31 May – 2 June
Afterthought
News from Australia points in the opposite direction. Charlotte Caslick is one of several Wallaroos from their outstanding 7s squad who are contemplating offering their names to the 15s squad in time for the 2025 World Cup in England. Delighted as Jo Yapp may be to have a cluster of stars descend upon her, her greatest need is for forwards to take the strain and provide front-foot ball for talented backs. That was the gravest shortcoming in their loss to the US Eagles two weeks ago.
