Clifford and Sloan return from England duty for Harlequins 7s

Harlequins have announced the squad that will compete in the JP Morgan 7s on Saturday evening at Allianz Park.

Jack Clifford and Harry Sloan return to the club having helped England to victory in the IRB Junior World Championships in France in June.

James Chisholm, who joined the Harlequins Academy full time this season from Brighton College, is also named in the squad.

The seventeen year old will then head off to South Africa with England U18s next week. He joins his brother Ross in the squad.

In addition Harlequins have included two guest players from two of the club’s affiliate sides in Kenya and Abu Dhabi. Patrice Agunda is an experienced 23 year old 7s player from Kenya Harlequins who has been involved in the Kenyan 7s squad for the last two seasons in the 7s World Series.

Jeremy Manning, the former NZ Maori, is the second guest player and will be known to Harlequins supporters from his time at Munster and Newcastle Falcons. He now plays his rugby in the United Arab Emirates with the Abu Dhabi Harlequins.

Harlequins Chief Executive David Ellis commented: “We are committed to bringing Harlequins affiliate family together under the one Harlequins umbrella and this is the perfect opportunity for us to do this.

“We look forward to welcoming both Patrice and Jeremy into our 7s squad for this tournament.”

Harlequins Academy head coach Howard Graham said: “We take the JP Morgan 7s very seriously. It’s a good opportunity to develop the players’ fitness, but it also has a direct effect on the XVs too as it highlights players’ strengths and weaknesses.

“It is important for us because it is how we want our guys to play in the first team – an expansive, free-flowing game and we’re looking forward to getting out on the pitch on Saturday.”

The full squad is below:

Jack Clifford

Ross Chisholm

Dave Ward

Ollie Lindsay-Hague

Charlie Walker

Patrice Agunda

Joe Trayfoot

Harry Sloan

Jeremy Manning

Louis Grimoldby

Jordan Burns

James Chisholm

Jack Clifford, England U20s. Picture: Lynne Cameron/PA

Monday, July 29, 2013

1:45 PM

Clifford and Sloan return from England duty for Harlequins 7s