Mcconnochie ‘gutted’ for former sevens team-mates

wing Ruaridh Mcconnochie has expressed sympathy for his former England Sevens team-mates, who now find themselves without a contract following the Rugby Football Union’s budget cuts.

Mcconnochie left the England Sevens set-up in 2018 to take up a contract with Bath and has made an immediate impact, winning his first caps for the England XVS side at last year’s World Cup in Japan.

The 28-year-old wing, who starts for Bath today against Leicester Tigers, revealed that he had been in touch with his former team-mates.

“It’s been tough. A few are looking for clubs. Guys have families, mortgages and live in south-west London, which isn’t the cheapest place to live. To be told like that with such short-term information has put them in a tough spot,” Mcconnochie said.

“I am gutted for them. That’s not just the players, the whole programme. I put so much of where I am now to those three years with the sevens – how I am as a bloke and a rugby player. There’s a lot of really good people there and I hope something comes of it before the new World Series comes about. They’re good enough people and have been in tough spots before so know they can’t mope around – they’ve got to be active.”

Dan Norton, the men’s World Rugby Sevens Series all-time leading try-scorer, has taken up a contract with London Irish until the end of the season, with Mcconnochie backing Norton and others to successfully transition to XVS.

“My time in sevens put me in such good stead coming into XVS. There is still that stigma over sevens players making that transition, but you can get a lot out of them. I hope as many of those guys find a club as possible. It’s horrible what’s gone on with them,” he said.

Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt return for the hosts, who also feature Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola in their pack. A swap on Harlequins’ right wing, Aaron Morris replacing Chris Ashton, is the sole change made by Paul Gustard following the win over Sale Sharks.

The hosts rotate, the visitors retain. Leicester field a fleet of youngsters and three Australian imports – Blake Enever, Guy Porter and Harry Potter – make debuts. Bath bring in Cameron Redpath and Tom Ellis starts.

Six academy graduates start for the Exiles, including Tom Homer in his first appearance since re-joining from Bath. He is either side of Ollie Hassell-collins and Ben Loader in an exciting back three. Saints introduce Nick Isiekwe and back-rower Shaun Adendorff.