Ahead of the Singha Premiership Rugby Sevens Harlequins Academy Head Coach Howard Graham took the time to speak to Last Word on Sports
Hi Howard, last year Harlequins reached the semi finals of the Premiership 7s what will the team need to do to take that extra step to win the tournament.
Small things, we should have won the game against the dragons last year and we let it slip, they were an man down and we just switched off for 30 seconds and thats all it takes in a game of sevens unfortunately, there is lots of space and if someone executes well they will score tries against you.
You face Saracens, Wasps and Northampton in the pool, as you did last year, who is the biggest threat.
Having seen the Wasps team that came out yesterday, they have fairly loaded that they will be obviously the ones to beat on paper, but you never know how they are going to play so will see how they go.
The Pool Stages are at the Ricoh Arena, Wasps home ground does that give them an edge
You would think so they are really trying to fill it, and are getting rid of a lot of tickets, it will be a great atmosphere, I hear the pitch is outstanding now they have relayed it and should be a good night.
Obviously you will be hoping to have that edge in the finals being at the Stoop
That’s the aim, if we can get in the top 2 at the Ricoh and then come down to our home ground that will be excellent
Which young players are going to make a name for themselves at this year’s tournament
Joe Marchant was player of the tournament in the pool games last year, he’s playing again this year, coming back from injury, so im looking forward to seeing him play, Henry Cheeseman is an outstanding athlete great sevens player so again he’ll be one to watch. With the junior lads we are introducing a couple of our elite player development group boys Gabriel Ibitoye is with the England U18s at the moment and Dino Lamb-Cona who has also been involved with the England U17s training camp, so i think they will stand up and show what theyve got as well as the full time boys.
How important are tournaments like the Singha Sevens and the LV Cup to young players development
Outstanding, it was great to see the players develop over the last few years in this tournament and it just allows them to get in front of biggish crowds with home support, they may have done it at internationals in age group level, but that Harlequins support base of people shouting their names, having that pressure on them as well as playing adult rugby its fantastic for them its a real enjoyment for them.
Is there an added pressure on the young talent to step up for this 7s tournament knowing that it could mean a XVs call up during the World Cup?
There is no doubt that it isolates your talent, your core skill at sevens and if players are playing well at that level against the players that they will be playing against, then there is no reason that they cannot step up and play in the fifteens, we showed that with Joe Marchant last year as an 18 year old he was playing at the end of the season in our first team, which was great to see,
How has the Rugby World Cup effected your preparations for the new season?
It has stretched it out a bit, obviously with the late start, everyone has the same issues but we are staggering it with time off as well as intense pre season. Its just different there is nothing wrong with it its just different to what we are normally used to.
Thank you Howard for your time and good luck at the Singha Premiership Sevens
