Chiefs name Sevens squad

By Mark Stevens

Ricky Pellow wants those Exeter Chiefs players involved in this year's Premiership Rugby Sevens to lay down a marker for all at Sandy Park this season.

In the annual season opener, which again takes place at Gloucester's Kingsholm Stadium, Pellow and fellow coach Keith Fleming send a youthful looking squad into action against the Cherry & Whites, Bath Rugby and London Irish.

England Under-20s youngsters Joel Conlon and Stu Townsend - both fresh from helping their country to regain the IRB Junior World Championship this summer - head up Exeter's 12-man squad.

Both featured in last season's competition, as did the likes of Rob Coote, Tom Dowding, Jamie Forrester and skipper Sam Simmonds, who this year have been joined by fellow young guns Tom Hendrickson, Max Bodilly, Laurence May and Exeter University products Harry Ledger and Adam Worth.

For all involved, Pellow (pictured) says the opportunity is there for them to go out and shine on the big stage.

"Sevens is so exciting and it's a real up and coming sport," said Pellow. "Going up to Gloucester for all of our guys is a big thing and offers them a great opportunity to show what they can do.

"Every year we see the tournament gain more and more recognition and for our boys it's a nice way to get their season up and running. All of them have been working really hard in pre-season over the last few weeks, but now this takes them into the competitive side of the season.

"For all of the guys involved, they'll be the ones flying the flag first up for the Chiefs going into the new season, so it's important that we set our stall out early and show what we are all about. We've got a good mix within the group, guys like Joel and Stu who have both just come back from New Zealand with the Under-20s, and a few others including those from the University who played in the tournament last season

"Each year we say we want to attack every competition that we're involved in and this is no different.  If you look back over the years, especially the first season we were in the Premiership, we put out a very competitive squad and we made it through to the Finals night.

"For us, nothing changes this time round. We want to go up there, perform well, show what we're about and put in a physical and determined effort throughout. I've no doubt our guys will be competitive, but so too will the other teams and we have to be ready for that."

1 HARRY LEDGER

2 SAM SIMMONDS (CAPT)

3 JOEL CONLON

4 STUART TOWNSEND

5 MAX BODILLY

6 ROB COOTE

7 ADAM WORTH

8 TOM DOWDING

9 MATT ELIET

10 TOM HENDRICKSON

11 LAURENCE MAY

12 JAMIE FORRESTER