Sports Gazette

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RugbyX Group B Preview

October 27, 2019

Group B Preview

High intensity, high energy and high speed, introducing RugbyX. Full contact, 5-aside rugby but on a half-sized pitch, the first ever RugbyX tournament will take place on Tuesday 29 October at the O2 and stars some of the sevens circuits biggest names. Want to know more about what RugbyX actually is? Check out the Sports Gazettes preview here

Group B includes Argentina, France and the USA, three sides notorious for their pace and flair. However, playing on a half size pitch will require more physicality and less speed. 

Favourite- The USA have included “the fastest man in rugby,” Carlin Isles, a majestic sevens player who can rip through any defence with his blistering pace. Although they will play on a smaller scale pitch, the Eagles have pace to burn and will surely light up the O2.

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USA

 Coach- Mike Friday

 Captain- Danny Barrett

Player to watch- Perry Baker, two time World Sevens player of the year has over 185 tries for the Eagles. Loaded with pace and power, how will his skills transfer over to a smaller pitch?

USA’s squad possesses firepower throughout, Carlin Isles, the top try scorer of 2019 and World Rugby Sevens player of 2019 Stephen Tomasin.

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Argentina

Coach- Santiago Gomez Cora

Captain- Lautaro Bazan Velez

Player to watch- Fernando Luna- A big frame for a rugby sevens player, Luna has tried his hand at 15s and 7s, standing at 6ft3 Luna will be looking to use his physicality to help the Pumas.

Argentina name a strong side, including eight players from their 2019 World Rugby Seven Series squad. The Pumas are famed for their elegant running rugby and will be using this to full effect at Rugby X.

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France

Coach- Jerome Daret 

Captain- Jean-Pascal Barraque

Player to watch- Jean-Pascal Barraque has 523 points in 127 appearances for the French national sevens side. Only four players scored more points than him in the last series showing just how dangerous he can be. Being a utility back, he is able to adapt to a number of positions, which could help his side at RugbyX. 

France name a strong side, with a number of their members representing the French rugby sevens side. Their side is full of powerful runners including winger Tavite Veredamu who has scored 135 points in just 48 matches. 

Author

  • Hamish Percy

    Rugby union and football fanatic. Wasps ultra and Liverpool fan. Hamish, 22, is a recent graduate from the University of Nottingham where he attained a first in History and was awarded a national prize for his dissertation. Hamish has always had a love for sport, growing up playing mainly rugby union and hockey. He represented his county and region in hockey before captaining his school 1st XI and playing it frequently at University. Hamish currently works for BT Sport Rugby part-time and has had previous work experience with BBC Sport where he worked on Watford FC and Luton Town. In addition, he has had previous experience producing match reports for BBC Three counties radio. He also commentated on the BUCS finals for the men and women’s hockey in 2019 with the combined view count of these matches totalling north of 9,000. Follow Hamish on twitter @hamish_percy

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