- Midlands quartet in England Sevens squad
- The four are part of 21-strong IRB Sevens World Series squad
Four Midlands-based players have been included in this season's England Sevens training squad.
Worcester Warriors flanker Jake Abbott, Moseley No. 8 James Rodwell and Birmingham & Solihull pair David Akinluyi and Chris Brightwell have all been included in the 21-strong squad for the IRB Sevens World Series.
Abbott, who has played for Midlands Under-20s and senior rugby for North Midlands, has been included in the England Sevens squad for the first time along with flanker Brightwell, a New Zealander who is in his second season with Birmingham & Solihull.
Brightwell played for the Help for Heroes side in the Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham earlier this season alongside Akinluyi who was recently registered by Birmingham & Solihull.
Winger Akinluyi, who scored a try for Cambridge in the 2005 Varsity Match, previously played for Northampton Saints.
Rodwell, another former North Midlands Under-20 player, has been included in the England Sevens training squad for a third season.
