This weekend the England senior men’s and women’s sevens teams will compete in the London leg of the IRB World Sevens competitions. Among the talent on display are a number of names who are in contention to be selected for Great Britains 'Student Lions' later this year.

The England Women’s squad announced to compete in the IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup at the Marriott London Sevens at Twickenham beginning tomorrow includes Isobel Noel-Smith (Bath), Sarah McKenna (Bedfordshire) and Emily Scarratt (Leeds Met). All three are in selection contention for Great Britain Women’s Sevens team for the2012 World University Championships (WUCS) which are taking place in Brive-La-Gaillarde – France between the 11-13 July, due to their impressive performances for their universities and their country.

From the men’s squad competing in the Marriott London Sevens competition four players are also in contention to represent Great Britain in this year’s WUCS. Dan Bibby (UWIC)who made his England sevens debut last weekend up in Scotland is joined by Sam Edgerley (UCL), Tom Mitchell (Oxford) and Mark Odejobi (Brunel) hoping to make the trip to France to compete against some of the best young players in the world. Tom Mitchell is currently England’s third highest top points scorer with 128 after impressing with 57 points last weekend alone.

The World University Championships represent a unique opportunity for a combined England/ Wales/ Scotland team to compete as Great Britain in an international 7s competition before Rugby 7s makes its reintroduction as an Olympic sport in Rio 2016 after a 90 year absence. BUCS is delighted that the event has received the support of the RFU (England), WRU (Wales) and SRU (Scotland) performance departments, and Russell Earnshaw (England senior 7s Ass’t Coach) and Susie Appleby (England senior women’s 7s Ass’t Coach) will act as Head Coaches to the student team.

Final selections for the Great Britain ‘Student Lions’ will be announced on Monday 11 June on www.bucs.org.uk