• • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • Stumble Upon
  • Furl

Samurai International head into the first leg of tomorrow’s National Sevens Series as many people’s favourites for the overall title.

Invitational sevens’ most successful team have been drawn in Group D for Saturday’s RugbyRocks (June 12) along with Apache and guest team, Irish Raiders.

Last season saw them receive the ‘UR7s Elite Team of the Year’ accolade recognising wins in Amsterdam and Manchester and a runners-up berth at the Middlesex Sevens losing to strong London Irish outfit.

This term has already seen them pick up titles in Las Vegas and their sixth title in-a-row at Amsterdam backed up by reaching the finals of the Hong Kong Tens and Darwin’s Hottest Sevens.

As usual the side will blend players from various nations for the Series. Regular Samurai Simon Hunt will be a key influence for the side, with the England Sevens man in outstanding form already this season.

Victorious Amsterdam skipper Carl Murray will again take the reins for RugbyRocks as Samurai keep faith with many of the players that shone in Holland.

Rhys Jones and Gavin Dacey possess Wales Sevens experience while Kiwis Mike Davis, Zane Winsdale, and Tim Wiley all have had exposure on New Zealand’s NPC.

34 year-old Oriol Ripol, formerly of Sale and now of Worcester, will play along with the ever-reliable and versatile Geoff Griffiths.

Other players who have been registered and can expect to play later in the Series are Jevon Groves (Wales) and Tim Walsh (Australia) who both carry plenty of IRB Sevens World Series caps. The highly rated Jamie Hearn (Saracens Academy) was involved with the Samaurai’s development the side, the Barracudas, in Kenya last weekend and is also expected to feature later in the Series.

Founder of Samurai International, Terry Sands, is adamant the National Series can develop the sport in the UK to new levels.

“I don’t think anyone on the circuit saw this on the horizon or expected it to happen so soon. It’s a great concept. It is good for sevens and will help build an even greater healthy rivalry between the teams,” says Sands.
“It is taking sevens to next level. Standards of administration and refereeing will be better and more professional. Unfortunately when we now go and participate on events outside the circuit we will probably judge them on the standards shown by the National Series!”

Samurai have set a precedent for invitational sevens in their professional approach, being one of the first sides to regularly travel with coaches and their own physiotherapists in years gone by.

It’s a method now adopted by almost all elite level teams and Sands is convinced the Series will reduce the gap between Samurai and some of the other teams.

“We were probably the first team to have our own coach, physio and took it to another level setting us on a bit of a pedestal. The other teams are of course starting to take that on board and follow suit now.

“We have pioneered a model for invitational sevens but with the Series happening I think you will see teams closing the gap between us,” adds Sands

“We’ve always tried to be very, very professional as a team, but we want them to enjoy themselves. It’s about getting that balance. Players are normally surprised when they play for us about how relaxed we are.”

Samurai International Group D Fixtures - RugbyRocks

11:00 Samurai International v Apache
12:20 Samurai International v Irish Raiders
 

---

The National Sevens Series, bought to you by Ultimate Rugby Sevens, is supporting the Julian Starmer-Smith Lymphona Fund. To learn more about the charity and to donate go to http://www.justgiving.com/jssfund