THE son of a Jerseyman has been selected in England’s preliminary squad for the Rugby Sevens World Cup.

Guy Thompson (20) has already played for England at U18 level and is also a part of Gloucester Rugby Club’s Academy. The openside flanker, who joined the Gloucester Academy from UWIC University, enjoyed success with the England U18 squad and will now take the big step up to the senior sevens squad and hopes to secure a place in the team before next year’s World Cup in Dubai.

Thompson impressed for Gloucester’s seniors in this summer’s televised Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham. Guy, son of Jerseyman Peter, who now lives in Slovakia, will try to match the achievements of Jerseyman Matt Banahan, of Gloucester’s close rivals Bath. Banahan, the former Jersey RFC Academy and Siam Cup player, excelled when playing World Series sevens and has gone on to win caps and the Churchill Cup with the England Saxons – the national B 15-a-side team.

Thompson, who has many relatives in the Island, joins up with the 26-man training squad in preparation for the next stage of the World Series in Dubai at the end of this month.

Right: Matt Banahan’s career received a great boost with his performances in sevens