Rio 2016 rugby sevens: Britain name squads as Tom Mitchell and Emily Scarratt captain Olympic teams

Scotland international Mark Bennett is included along with Marcus Watson and James Davies, while Rugby World Cup-winning captain Katy McLean is included in the women's squad

Matt McGeehan
Tuesday 19 July 2016 12:04 EDT
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The men's and women's Team GB rugby sevens squads are unveiled for the Rio 2016 Olympics
The men's and women's Team GB rugby sevens squads are unveiled for the Rio 2016 Olympics (Getty)

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Scotland's Mark Bennett has been included in Great Britain's sevens squad for the Olympic Games in Rio next month.

Marcus Watson, brother of England wing Anthony, and James Davies, brother of Wales centre Jonathan, have also been included in the 12-man squad.

Emily Scarratt will captain the women's team, which includes Katy McLean, who captained England to the 15-a-side World Cup win in 2014.

The group were the final selected athletes for Team GB for the Rio Games, which open on August 5.

The women's squad, who have been training full-time as a wider British squad since last October, includes a number of World Cup winners, with only one non-English player, Jasmine Joyce of Wales.

The men's group includes tried and trusted sevens talent.

Team GB women's rugby sevens captain Emily Scarratt alongside men's counterpart Tom Mitchell
Team GB women's rugby sevens captain Emily Scarratt alongside men's counterpart Tom Mitchell (Getty)

Tom Mitchell captain's the men, featuring James Rodwell, who set a new world record earlier this year after playing in 69 consecutive World Rugby Sevens Series' tournaments, and Dan Norton, the series' fourth-highest leading scorer of all time.

It will be the first time in 108 years that Team GB have had representation in rugby at Olympic level and a first for the seven-a-side format.

Competition takes place over six days with the women competing first from August 6 to 8 at the Deodoro Stadium in a pool which includes hosts Brazil, Japan and Canada.

The men's side meet New Zealand in the Rio 2016 group stages
The men's side meet New Zealand in the Rio 2016 group stages (Getty)

The men's competition follows from August 9 to 11 with Kenya, Japan and New Zealand - featuring Sonny Bill Williams - the pool stage opposition.

Great Britain sevens squad:

Men: Mark Bennett, 23, Glasgow; Dan Bibby, 25, Putney; Phil Burgess, 28, Farnborough; Sam Cross, 23, Newport; Alex Davis, 23, Bristol; James Davies, 25, Carmarthen; Ollie Lindsay Hague, 25, London; Tom Mitchell, 27, Wandsworth; Dan Norton, 28, Bristol; James Rodwell, 31, Cotteridge; Mark Robertson, 31, Galashiels; Marcus Watson, 25, Weybridge. Travelling reserves: Luke Treharne, 23, Llanelli; Ruaridh McConnochie, 24, Kingston upon Thames.

Women: Claire Allan, 31, Ealing; Abbie Brown, 20, Exeter; Heather Fisher, 32, Birmingham; Natasha Hunt, 27, Gloucester; Jasmine Joyce, 20, Haverfordwest; Katy McLean, 30, South Shields; Alice Richardson, 29, Worcester; Emily Scarratt, 26, Leicester; Emily Scott, 24, Corringham; Danielle Waterman, 31, Bristol; Joanne Watmore, 29, Chester; Amy Wilson-Hardy, 24, Poole. Travelling reserves: Megan Jones, 19, Cardiff; Kay Wilson, 24, Caterham.

PA

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