Published: 29/07/2010 10:15 - Updated: 29/07/2010 10:27

Elliott and Nutley to step up for sevens challenge

Jamie Elliott and Ben Nutley are probably not the two most familiar names in the Northampton Saints squad, but the Academy pair are hoping that tomorrow night’s leg of the Premiership Sevens Series at Franklin’s Gardens will allow them to show what they are capable of.

Northampton take on Bath, Gloucester and Exeter Chiefs in the final round of the group stages, with the top two sides on the night going through to the finals at the Recreation Ground next Friday.

With at least 5,000 fans expected to attend and the ESPN television cameras in attendance, it will provide the youngsters named in the squad with a great opportunity to experience professional rugby.

“The sevens should be a good experience, going out and getting hands on the ball in a game after not playing for about three months or so. It wil be good to get a good crowd in there,” said centre Elliott.

He has featured before in the Wanderers side during their A League games and the 18-year-old admitted that it was a big difference for him.

“It was a massive step up in physicality, the speed of the game and the amount of talk that goes into it,” he said.

“I remember playing Saracens and the ball was just getting kicked and kicked, so I had to keep running backwards.

“Paul Diggin kept talking all of the time from full back, helping me out.

“The step up is very big, but it’s just getting used to it, seeing if I can push myself to that level and then seeing if I can go beyond it.”

Flanker Nutley is also looking forward to Friday, despite his limited experience of playing sevens rugby, saying: “We’ve played a few end of season sevens tournament and done fairly well. We won the plate at one as with the academy and I’ve done a few at college.

“I’m not really a sevens specialist – we’ll leave that up to the backs – but I’m looking forward to it.”

Academy forwards coach Mark Hopley said: “It’s a fantastic stage for the youngsters to go out at Franklin’s Gardens and experience what it is like on a match day.

“I think we’re expectimg about 5,000 people, so in terms of experience for the youngsters, with the TV cameras there and it being a pressure situation, that’s brilliant for them.

“It’s a quick, free-flowing game and there is a lot more space to attack.

“You have to work a lot harder in defence and the young lads that will be playing have worked hard in preseason, and it will be good to see how far they have come in a short space of time.”