Formed 2004 ... Herts 7s U14 Runners-up 2005 ... North Herts U14 team, Herts Youth Games 2005 runners-up (coached by Letchworth)... Herts Superteams U14 Runners-up 2005 ... Herts SuperTeams "Fairplay" winners 2006 ... Rochford 10s U17 Champions 2006 ... East Midlands 10s U17 Runners-up 2007 ... East Midlands 10s U17 "Fairplay" winners 2007 ... National 10s U17 5th place and "Fairplay" winners 2007 ... Herts 7s U17 Plate runners-up 2007 ... National 7s U17 Plate winners 2007 ... RFU "President's XV" Award winners 2007 ... Herts Superteams winners 2007 ... Midlands 10s U18 Runners-up 2008 ... National 10s U18 4th place 2008 ... North Herts U11 team, Herts Youth Games 2008 runners-up (coached by Letchworth girls) ... London and SE 7s U18 Plate runners-up 2008 ... Herts 7s U18s runners-up 2008 ... National 7s U18s quarter-finalists 2008 ... Gloucester City 10s U18 Bowl runner-up (6th) 2009 ... Worthing 10s U18 Plate runner-up 2009 ... National 7s U18 Plate winners 2009... Worthing 10s U15 Plate winners 2010... Worthing 10s U18 Shield winners 2010... Herts 7s U15 and U18 Bowl runners-up 2010... National 7s U18 Plate runners-up 2010...

Thursday, March 05, 2009

World Cup Sevens preview: Pool D

Pool D seems to be a bit of a cock-up as it features both of the tournament's African qualifiers... you'd have thought the IRB would keep them apart. It is also, frankly (and maybe as a result), the least interesting group.

New Zealand should win the pool at a canter. Although their results over the past year have been uninspiring, nothing in this pool should be a concern to them.

Uganda are here to learn. Runner-up from Africa, they have an excellent record at both sevens and XVs... but very few resources, as a result of which this will be the first time they have played outside Africa.

Italy are a significantly stronger side at sevens than they are XVs, but even so were only sixth in the European qualifier and have never made a significant impact at this version of the game. They should qualify with New Zealand... but... 

...South Africa could have other ideas. Outclassed at the 2006 World Cup, they have made significant strides in recent years - especially their youth team who had some excellent results against USA U19s a year ago, and sevens is a young player's game. Their sevens team is unbeaten, but also untried outside Africa. Even so they could easily slip past the Italians into second place.

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