Hartpury players shine as Gloucester dominate JP Morgan Sevens

A Gloucester Rugby squad packed with current and former Hartpury College students lit up the JP Morgan Asset Management Premiership Sevens at Kingsholm Stadium last week as the host club won Group C and progressed to the competition finals.

Placed in a pool with local rivals Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs and Worcester Warriors, the Cherry and Whites dominated proceedings throughout and claimed three wins from three games.

Current student Ian Clark stole the show as he grabbed six tries, including a hat-trick against Bath, and was named Player of the Round. The 19-year-old winger registered 27 tries for Hartpury College RFC last season, finishing as the top scorer in National Division Two South.

It was a proud evening for the College’s Rugby Academy as, aside from Clark, no less than seven other past and present Hartpury players were selected in Gloucester’s 12-strong squad.

Jonny May, who lifted numerous trophies during his time at the College, including the BUCS Championship and EDF Intermediate Cup, captained the side and scored a five-pointer in a 34-7 win over Exeter.

Ex-student Gareth Evans bagged two tries, with fellow alumni Dan Robson and Henry Trinder sharing a further two.

Rob Langley, current student Alex Woodburn and Ross Moriarty, all of whom won the RFU U18 AASE League Championship with the College, completed the Hartpury eight.

The finals, where Gloucester will be joined by Bath, London Welsh, Sale Sharks, Saracens and London Irish, will be played at Bath’s Recreation Ground on Friday 3^rd August.