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With Middlesex Sevens just around the corner, the draw has been made for the 12 Guinness Premiership sides and the four invitational teams competing in the knock-out competition at Twickenham on August 15.

The four invitational sides have been kept apart, with Howard Graham’s White Hart Marauders facing a tough opening match meeting last year’s winners Harlequins.

The last time Harlequins won the Middlesex Sevens, they went onto win the tournament for five years in succession. 

But Graham has tasted success with the Army in the past at Twickenham and will be looking to use all his experience to guide what is expected to be a competitive side to a win over the talented Quins.

They have already retained their Kinsale crown this season, and were runners up in both Manchester and in Newquay, so will be hoping to continue this form at Twickenham.

For two of the other invitational sides they would have been disappointed to see severe weather causing a cancellation of the Cwmtawe 7s at the weekend.

The premier Welsh Sevens tournament would have provided a good platform going into Middlesex, but for Samurai and the British Army, this will not affect their preparations.

Mike Friday will coach the Samurai squad and will look to include a mixture of young and old blood in a bid to take the crown. He has included the likes of Ben Gollings and Simon Amor, and will begin with a match against Northampton Saints. The two played each other earlier this season in Bury, with the Saints coming out on top in the final.

As for the British Army, they will be looking to go one better this year having finished runners up to Harlequins last time round. Having already won Bath and Newquay Sevens this season, they meet Bath Rugby.

A Help for Heroes VII has also been entered into the draw as the fourth invitational side. They will be representing the charity which helps raise funds for wounded soldiers and be coached by England Sevens head coach Ben Ryan.

Ryan is expected to name a side mixed with prospective players for next season’s IRB Sevens Series and service men for the day and will play Sale Sharks.

It is not the first time a Help for Heroes side has entered a tournament this season however, with the side picking up some silverware for their victory at the Rosslyn Floodlit Sevens in May.

In the remainder of the draw there are four all-Guinness Premiership matches, Gloucester v London Irish, Saracens v Worcester, London Wasps v Leeds Carnegie and Newcastle Falcons v Help for Heroes. The knock-out format of the day will see first round losers being into the Plate competition.

With a total of 22 matches on offer, and an expected 30,000 people attending, many of whom are sure to be in fancy dress, the Middlesex Sevens is set to be the best and most fiercely contested yet.

Full draw:

Army v Bath
Gloucester v London Irish
White Hart Marauders v Harlequins
Saracens v Worcester
Samurai v Northampton
London Wasps v Leeds Carnegie
Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers
Sale Sharks v Help for Heroes

UR7s are running an exclusive deal with Middlesex Sevens saving you £5 OFF all tickets for its members.

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