HSBC Sevens World Series 2012-13
Phillips earns England Sevens recall
ESPN Staff
December 7, 2012
England Sevens' Ollie Phillips in training, The Lensbury Club, Teddington, England, September 26, 2012
Ollie Phillips will play in the Port Elizabeth Sevens this weekend © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Ollie Phillips | Ben Ryan
Teams: England

England Sevens boss Ben Ryan has recalled Ollie Phillips for this weekend's third leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series in South Africa.

Phillips, who was the 2009 IRB Sevens Player of the Year, last turned out for Ryan's men three years ago and was pencilled in for last weekend's Dubai Sevens. But following the recurrence of a calf injury on the eve of the tournament, Phillips was forced to pull out.

He comes into the squad in place of Tom Mitchell, who broke his leg last weekend, in the solitary change to the 12-man squad ahead of the Port Elizabeth Sevens. "Ollie's worked very hard to get himself fit and I know he was extremely disappointed he didn't make it last weekend," said Ryan. "We're delighted to have him back. He has a great deal of experience, communicates well and I'm sure he'll add something extra for us."

England are yet to qualify for the knockout stages of the Sevens Series this season and fell in the final of the Bowl in the first leg on the Gold Coast and won the Shield last weekend. Ryan's men will hope for a better return this weekend, but they have been placed in a hard pool alongside New Zealand, Fiji and Scotlnad.

"It's another tough pool to get out of but if we can do that we'll be in a good place," said Ryan. "The lads are very focused on what's ahead and we know we've got to play well to get into the quarter finals but the challenge is something we'll relish."

England Sevens squad:
Dan Bibby, John Brake, Chris Brightwell, James Lightfoot-Brown, Ollie Marchon, Dan Norton, Ollie Phillips, Tom Powell, James Rodwell, Rob Vickerman (captain), Marcus Watson, Jeff Williams

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