Great Britain 7s (GB7s) are pleased to confirm the core men’s and women’s squads and coaching structure for the 2023 World Rugby Sevens Series.
Scotland 7s head coach Ciaran Beattie has been named Programme Lead for the Men’s and Women’s teams and will oversee both programmes, as well as serving as men’s assistant coach, as the men’s group prepare to compete on the 2023 circuit, which gets underway on the weekend of 4-6 November in Hong Kong.
The amalgam of English, Scottish and Welsh national sevens squads sees Tony Roques named men’s head coach and Nick Wakley as women’s head coach. Robbie Fergusson, will be in a player/coach role as he focusses on technical skill areas of the game with both squads. Recruitment for a women’s assistant coach role is currently being finalised.
The 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will consist of 11 men’s and 7 women’s rounds, from November to May, with final legs being staged in London for the men, and Toulouse for the women.
The core 2023 GB7s men’s squad sees five 2020 Olympians included while the women’s squad features a number of previously core England players including co-captains Meg Jones and Abbie Brown with the remainder of GB7s Women’s selection subject to additions to be determined upon the conclusion of the current Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The initial squads met for their first camp last week, as the men prepare shortly for the Hong Kong event which kicks of the World Series. The women were brought together as they start their preparation for Dubai in early December.
GB7s Programme Lead, Beattie, said: “It has taken a great deal of hard work from everyone connected with GB7s to be able to announce the initial core players for both men’s and women’s squads for the upcoming season.
“The 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is a matter of weeks away, and we are pleased to have squads in camp in preparation for that opening men’s event in Hong Kong in November.
“The women’s squad will continue to train, with more players to be added in due course, ahead of the Dubai legs in December.”
GB7s core squads for 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series:
Men’s
Jamie Adamson
Jamie Barden
Kaleem Barreto
Api Bavadra
Alex Davis
Tom Emery
Jamie Farndale
Robbie Fergusson
Will Homer
Paddy Kelly
Ross McCann
Max McFarland
Freddie Roddick
Morgan Williams
Tom Williams
Ethan Waddleton
Women’s*
Ellie Boatman
Abbie Brown
Heather Cowell
Megan Jones
Alicia Maude
Isla Norman-Bell
Celia Quansah
Jade Shekells
Emma Uren
*further core squad members to be announced in due course.
