Jonathon Bolter will be writing a weekly power rankings in the build up to National Sevens Series, whilst lifting the lid on which players could be turning out.

It’s only four weeks to go till the inaugural National Sevens Series in the UK. It all kicks off at Rugby Rocks on June 12th at the Richmond Athletic Ground and the core teams are currently busy registering their players.

I’ve done some digging as promised to see who teams are hoping to bring in and following on from last week here is the second installment of NS Power Rankings.

1. Samurai International - Week off for the East Anglia big guns. But the rumour mill has been going round at some speed with regards to the players that will be pulling on the famous shirt. Two of the biggest names that discussions are on-going with at present are Ben Gollings and Fabian Juries. Gollings is the leading IRB points scorer in history and is expected to stay on in the UK after London and Edinburgh to play for Samurai. Juries, returning to IRB Sevens this weekend, is a veteran with 42 tournament caps and is the 3rd highest point scorer of all time. If discussions are positive these two men will guarantee points for International.

2. White Hart Marauders - The team from Eversley, Hampshire (cheers Barrie!) were also not playing this week. But their academy side were busying once again in the Ashby Sevens, giving more valuable experience to some of the younger players in the WHM squad. Jake Henry is expected to be in the Marauders NS Squad and once again looked sharp in helping the academy make the semi-final in Leicestershire before being undone by a powerful and experienced West Country Cavaliers squad that had too much for the young team.

3. British Army - Though the Army boys have not been playing as a squad yet this season circuit, many of their players have been putting in some good performances for other military based sides. Many of the players in the 1pwr squad this weekend in Ashby will have some involvement in the series and a dominant display at the 'Iron-Bru' sponsored event will have done them no harm whatsoever as they took the title.

4. HFW Wailers - The Wailers have continued to be quiet on the field but that will be changing this week, as along with a number of other National Series teams they will head to Holland for the world famous Amsterdam Sevens. I am expected to see team manager Andy Howells give many of his National Series players a run out as they attempt to end the Samurai dominance of the tournament. Smales brothers Jack and Hamish will surely be in the squad with the former always have an impact.

5. Olorun ID - ID as a squad had a weekend off but their Kiwi fly half Matty James travelled to Scotland for the Glasgow Sevens where he was playing for the Swedish Vikings. By all accounts Matty was hot for the second weekend in a row, taking the MVP award whilst finishing runners-up to the home side Glasgow. James will be pulling the strings for ID this summer and I am expecting big things.

6. Apache - Another side who had the weekend off, which is unusual for the usual busy Oxfordshire based team! Team Manager Adam Hurst received some welcome news last week when possible Apache star Chris Cracknell was handed only a four week ban for his part in an infraction whilst playing for Worcester against Leeds. The four week ban means that Cracknell will be allowed to play again in time for the National Series which will of great importance to Apache as Cracknell has the ability to dominate the loose and has gained valuable World Series experience for England

7. The Akuma Smurfs - Still very quiet down in Wales! But I have done some groundwork and got a few names of players that will be pulling on the sky blue. Lloyd Williams has been involved with the IRB Sevens this year and has had a good season with the Blues. Likewise Alex Walker of the Dragons who made his International Sevens debut for Wales in Wellington this and also did well in Las Vegas. More digging required but things are looking up for Welsh lads.

8. Gilbert Pups - The Pups will also be looking to do some damage in Amsterdam this week and of all the sides they are the ones I have the most interest in. Traditional Pups sides have a real Blackheath influence and given the rugby 'the club' played in Bury last week this could be of real benefit with the players having expert tuition in the game through coach Mike Friday. If the Pups can bring in players like Matt Vaughn from the South East London club, they will be in the mix.

9. Raging Bull Ronin - Ronin have had a tough fortnight, and after opening the rankings in fifth position, they have taken a real tumble. Losing to Apache at London Rugby Festival was the first sign of something being amiss but this weekend the side lost in the Plate final in Ashby. Ronin have been playing a young side throughout the early part of the season but I cannot let it slide when the only National Series team at the tournament in Leicestershire finished so low down the order. You have to think that dramatic improvement is required.

It's going to a huge week for the National Series teams and players. With the penultimate leg of the IRB Sevens World Series at Twickenham, the international stars will be playing themselves into some serious form. A number of the NS teams themselves will also be in action in Amsterdam, with four of the sides taking part. These rankings could have a completely different complexion next week.

Till next week, Keep it Sevens.

JB