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Six members of England’s Sevens team will suit up for the London Royals at the inaugural World Tens Series event in Bermuda. The team was recently made redundant in its entirety while the World Sevens Series is on an indefinite hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two members of the Olympic Silver Medal-winning Great Britain side are among them – captain Tom Mitchell and record try-scorer Dan Norton. They are joined by forward Richard de Carpentier and speedy backs trio Tom Bowen, Alex Davis, and Tom Emery.
A number of Major League Rugby stars are also present including Seattle Seawolves quartet Stephan Coetzee, Andrew Durutalo, Ross Neal, and David Busby. Former Argentina u20 midfielder JP Aguirre is also set to join Seattle from New York and is included along with former Free Jacks hooker Sean McNulty who has found a new home with the expansion LA Giltinis.
Austin Gilgronis captain Zinzan Elan-Puttick, a Collegiate All-American 7s star, and former England 7s and XVs international Ben Foden are also named. There are two currently unattached professionals in Scotland u20 forward Devante Onojaife and ex-London Irish flanker Max Northcote-Green.
A rare local representative also joins the squad. Bermuda captain and Teachers RFC forward Aldo Campbell is an imposing presence with ball in hand. Meanwhile Canadian-eligible winger Gio Douyon of 404 Rugby could get a chance to show his pace in search of an MLR contract.
The team will be coached by long-time England 7s team member John Brake, with help from current Seawolves coach Kees Lensing. Seattle also supply the Team Manager in Chris Tombs. Former England 7s captain and currently NFLer Alex Gray will be present as additional player support though he will not be lacing up the boots.
FORWARDS
Aldo Campbell (Teachers RFC), Stephan Coetzee (Seattle Seawolves), Richard de Carpentier (England 7s), Andrew Durutalo (Seattle Seawolves), Collin Hughes (Tiger Rugby), Devante Onojaife (unattached), Sean McNulty (LA Giltinis), Ross Neal (Seattle Seawolves), Max Northcote-Green (unattached)
BACKS
JP Aguirre (Seattle Seawolves), Tom Bowen (England 7s), David Busby (Seattle Seawolves), Alex Davis (England 7s), Gio Douyon (404 Rugby), Zinzan Elan-Puttick (Austin Gilgronis), Tom Emery (England 7s), Ben Foden (Rugby United New York), James Haley (Tiger Rugby), Tom Mitchell (England 7s), Dan Norton (England 7s)
