GB Sevens will continue their preparations for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games this weekend as they take to the field at Sevens and the City at Allianz Park on Saturday.
Separated into two teams, GB Lions will play Samurai, Barbados and Wales, while the GB Royals will face Italy, France and this season’s England academy side.
The event comes after a three week block of intensive training, with two Rugby Europe Grand Prix Sevens Series tournaments in Exeter and Gdynia to follow later this month.
“Training has been at an incredibly high standard. We always said it is where the players would face their toughest opposition and I couldn’t have asked for more,” said Team GB Sevens head coach Simon Amor.
“The attitude of the guys, and how they have challenged each other, has been excellent.
“Lots of learning has taken place, and with such strong competition, the guys are fighting for places daily.
“The main objective of the past three weeks was to put into place how we want to play the game in terms of attack and defence and there is a really good understanding of that now.
“The boys have done well in training but the test is how we put it into practice in tournaments. I think everyone is looking forward to getting into this competition phase and taking on other opposition as we continue to develop as a squad.”
Joe Simpson, Tom Bowen and Jamie Farndale are unavailable for selection for this weekend’s tournament in the capital, with Simpson’s Rio hopes up in the air after dislocating his elbow in training.
Bowen hopes to be back in contention for the trip to Exeter as he recovers from a knee injury, while Farndale is making impressive progress following the hamstring strain he sustained at Rugby Europe’s Moscow event.
Final selection for the Olympic Games squad will take place later this month although this week the team learned they will play New Zealand, Kenya and Japan in the pool stages in Rio.
“It is an incredibly exciting pool,” Amor said. “We all know New Zealand are an outstanding side, Kenya showed what they are capable of in winning the Singapore Sevens this season, and Japan have shown their potential on the series.
“It wouldn’t matter which pool you were drawn in at the Olympics, they will all be challenge. It is going to be an amazing experience.”
Sportsbeat 2016