By Tommy Churchyard - (@tommychurchyard)
Two of Bournemouth University’s most talented rugby players have been selected to play for the South England University Rugby Sevens team.
After having successful trials at the end of January, BU students Liam Driscoll and Harry Davis will join up with fellow university students from the South of England to face off against the North England University Sevens team tomorrow, Sunday 26th February, at Manchester Metropolitan University.
A National University 7s team will then be selected from this game, combining the best talent from the North and the South of England.
Multimedia Journalism student, Liam Driscoll, was born and bred in Wales, but is eligible to play for South England University Sevens as he is a student at BU. He said: “It’s an honour to be picked for South England University 7s, despite being a Welsh boy!”
At only 5’6”, Liam doesn’t have the conventional build for a rugby player, but his obvious talent in the game more than makes up for his physique. In regular rugby union, Liam plays fly half, but will be playing at scrum half for the 7s side. He has had limited experience playing sevens rugby however, as an injury forced him out of the Bournemouth 7s tournament last year:
“I was due to play for Bournemouth University’s (BURFC) first team last year in Bournemouth 7s, but I dislocated my shoulder which kept me out. I was looking sharp in training though which is why I was still put forward to trail for South England University 7s.”
Despite his lack of experience in this form of the game, Liam seems confident that he has a chance of making the national side. Nevertheless, he is well aware that it is not going to be easy to make the cut when faced against the best university rugby players from all across the country:
“It would be my first representative honour and I hope and I can make the national team. The standard will be high so I will have to perform to the best of my ability on the day.”
Marketing and Communications student, Harry Davis, 22, is pleased with his achievement on a personal level, but more importantly, he is delighted with what it means for BURFC. He said: “The reputation of the Bournemouth university rugby team has changed over the last few years and this is a good opportunity to represent them on a national scale.”
If Liam and Harry get called up for the National University 7s team, they will be playing against the best university rugby players from countries all over the world. They are yet to receive details of whether this will come in the form of a tournament or individual games, but that information will be made available should either of the duo qualify in tomorrow’s game.
Good luck boys!