Doidge in England Sevens squad

By Mark Stevens
15/7/22

Exeter Chiefs Women's back Merryn Doidge has been named in a 13-strong England Women Sevens squad for their Rugby Europe World Cup qualifying tournament at National Rugby Stadium Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest this weekend.

Doidge, who was recently named in the Team England Sevens squad for this summer's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, will line-ip in an England squad which has been drawn in Pool B and take on hosts Romania, Italy and Belgium.

The tournament is made up of three pools of four teams. The top eight teams will progress from the pools and be reseeded for the quarter-finals where the winners of each will qualify for the Rugby World Cup Sevens which takes place in South Africa in September.

Abbie Brown captains the side which is made up of players who have represented England Sevens on the 2022 World Series and Rugby Europe tournaments.

Rodwell said: “As a group we are really looking forward to getting back on the pitch with the aim to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Cape Town. We’ve had an intensive training block since we returned from the Rugby Europe tournaments and want to continue the progress made there.

“This is separate from the Commonwealth Games and a big opportunity to be involved in another major tournament in what is a really exciting year for sevens.”

with all matches streamed on RugbyEurope.tv

ENGLAND WOMEN'S SEVENS SQUAD

Ellie Boatman
Abbie Brown (C)
Heather Cowell
Grace Crompton
Merryn Doidge
Amy Wilson Hardy
Alicia Maude
Isla Norman-Bell
Jodie Ounsley
Celia Quansah
Jade Shekells
Lauren Torley
Emma Uren

Pool B schedule

Saturday 16 July

England Women 7s v Romania Women 7s – KO 11.06 local time/9.06 UK time

England Women 7s v Italy Women 7s – KO 18.06 local time/16.06 UK time

Sunday 17 July

England Women 7s v Belgium Women 7s – KO 11.06 local time/9.06 UK time