Hipkiss hoping for happy returns at Twickenham
Tuesday 23rd May 2006
Dan Hipkiss last played England Sevens at Twickenham last season, when England had to watch New Zealand win their sixth successive IRB Sevens series win. This year he is hoping to once again return to Twickenham with the England Sevens squad, but this time to help lift the IRB Sevens trophy with England, and celebrate his birthday at the same time.
The 23 year old Leicester Tigers centre has been concentrating on his XVs game this season so far, and has enjoyed a successful time with his club. "I have been pretty lucky with some of the Tigers players being injured and Pat Howard has given me a chance. I have especially enjoyed playing in the Heineken Cup, and am disappointed that I got injured at the wrong time in the season. There have been some good times, and I particularly enjoyed the match against Clermont away. Scoring the tries against Neath and Stade Francais were also highlights for me this season - they were pretty amazing games to be part of."
Dan was a key part of the England Sevens squad last years, and is currently back with his England Sevens team mates as the squad prepare for the final two tournaments in this year's IRB Sevens - Paris and London. He is enjoying being back with his old team mates, "Its really nice to be back and see the likes of Simon Amor and to be back rooming with Andy Vilk. There is always a really friendly atmosphere in this team and I am pleased to be given the chance to try and earn selection for these two important tournaments."
The former England Under 21, who will celebrate his 24th birthday on the final day of the Emirates Airline London Sevens, knows that he will have to impress the coaches at training this week to earn selection, and has been working on his fitness to prepare himself for sevens rugby. "I remember just how fit you have to be for international sevens, and I have been working hard to get back to shape after my injury. I played a match on Friday for the Tigers Academy against Barbados which was good fun, and it was useful to get a game under my belt."
Danny was named in the 16 man squad for the two tournaments, and the final squad of 12 will be named later in the week. He says, "There is a squad of 16 here so I know competition is fierce, and having not played all season I have more to prove than some of the others. Everyone has been telling me the game has moved on a bit, even since last summer, so I feel like an old man in the squad and I am only 23! There are some new faces such as Dave Seymour who I have seen in the premiership and watched at the Commonwealth Games, and who seems a good player. And I have played with David Strettle at Under 18s but I know most of the boys who are here."
Dan's Tigers team mate Tom Varndell has played regularly for the England Sevens squad this season, including winning silver at the Commonwealth Games, and Dan admits he was a bit jealous when Tom came back from his sevens travels, "Tom got a fair amount of banter when he came back but he is a fantastic player. Tom (and Mathew Tait) in particular played so well out in Melbourne, and I enjoyed watching him and cheering him on from back home."
Dan played in both Paris and London last season and has fond memories of playing at Twickenham in particular, "Twickenham is always special. The home support is a big factor in that as quite often on the sevens circuit you are playing in stadiums where the crowd are hostile towards you. The squad have done so well this season to get into second place and I really want to get my chance to contribute to that success and help England become the only team other than New Zealand to win the series."
The GMF Paris Sevens are held in Charlety on 27th & 28th May. The Emirates Airline London Sevens are held at Twickenham on 3rd & 4th June.
Tickets for the Emirates Airline London Sevens are available from Ticketmaster on 0870 902 0000 priced from £10.
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