Academy lads put on strong show in Munich

ENGLAND Sevens finished fourth at the Oktoberfest 7s last weekend after losing to South Africa in the bronze final match in Munich.

The 12-man academy squad was a mixture of fulltime senior and academy England Sevens players, as well as players from Aviva Premiership academies and selected universities.

Amor said: “This tournament was about giving this young side the opportunity to play against some top-level teams, to be challenged and to be tested through different styles of opposition.

“The way they they did that from the first game right through to the last was absolutely excellent.

“To lose Ben Howard and Callum Sirker, who were playing excellently, and also Jordan Ainslie, at the start of the tournament, really stretched the squad thinly, but we’re so pleased with the way they kept on fighting under some testing conditions which shows real strength in character.

“The most important thing that the squad will take away from this tournament is the effort that is required consistently to be successful at this top level.

“I think they’ll understand that with more hard work they are not that far away from being top players themselves.”

Simon Amor’s side finished third in Pool B after the first day of games following a 26-14 win over Uganda, a 12-10 victory over Argentina and a 21-14 loss to hosts Germany.

However, on day two England beat Germany 26-12 in the Cup quarter final to set up a last four tie against Australia, but lost 32-7 to the eventual winners in the semi-final.

In the penultimate game in Germany, England lost to South Africa 42-7 in the bronze final in the Olympic Stadium.