Brake blow for England
England’s John Brake has been ruled out of this week’s second leg of the Sevens World Series in Dubai.
The former Northampton Saints scrumhalf sustained a broken finger in the build-up to the Gold Coast Sevens in Australia last weekend.
“John fractured a finger in training before last weekend’s tournament,” confirmed head coach Ben Ryan.
“He will remain with the squad and should be available for selection next week in Port Elizabeth.”
England have reinforcements available after the arrival of Christian Lewis-Pratt and Simon Hunt, enabling Ryan to name a 13-man squad.
The group will be reduced by one before the Dubai Sevens takes place on Friday and Saturday.
On Day One England face Zimbabwe, Kenya and France in Pool C and their potential quarterfinal opponents on Day Two are New Zealand and South Africa.
The series then moves on to a new venue – the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa – for a third tournament in three weeks.
England: Greg Barden (captain), Chris Brightwell, Chris Cracknell, Isoa Damudamu (British Army), Simon Hunt, Christian Lewis-Pratt, Dan Norton, Tom Powell, James Rodwell, Nick Royle, Mathew Turner, Rob Vickerman, Marcus Watson (Saracens).
