By Sarah Braide
August 7 2002

The Middlesex Sevens take place at Twickenham on Saturday 17th August. Sale have announced the eleven man squad that must now begin to prepare to meet Wigan Warriors in our union-versus-league first round clash. If Sale get through the Wigan game then we will meet either Wasps or Leicester in the quarter finals. Sale took on Wasps last year in the first round of the losers' plate competition, losing 17-28. But things will be different this year.

The tournament promises to be a great spectacle because, since clubs signed a deal with Middlesex County RFU guaranteeing that they would send their strongest possible side to the Sevens, competition will be hotter than ever. League sides Wigan Warriors and Bradford Bulls are also going to be playing and interest in the event is running high following the success of the Commonwealth Games Sevens tournament.

Our squad features Alex Sanderson as captain. Mark Cueto could be very useful in Sevens and he will be part of the predominantly young squad that features several Jets players. Tickets are still available from the Sale ticket office (08712 220 120) or online from the official Middlesex Sevens site.

Sale squad: Alex Sanderson (captain), Richard Wilks, Nick Walshe, Mel Deane, Mark Cueto, Vaughan Going, Chris Briers, Mike Burgess, Magnus Lund, Matt Parr and Chris Mayor.

Sevens draw:

1st Round:
11.20 British Army V Saracens
11.40 Princess of Wales Regiment V Bath
12.00 Leeds Tykes V Bradford Bulls
12.20 NEC Harlequins V Gloucester
12.40 Northampton Saints V Bristol Shoguns
13.00 London Irish V Newcastle Falcons
13.20 Wigan Warriors V Sale Sharks
13.40 London Wasps V Leicester Tigers
Quarter Finals:
14.00 Winner of Army/Saracens V Winner of Princess/Bath
14.20 Winner of Leeds/Bradford V Winner of Quins/Gloucester
14.40 Winner of Northampton/Bristol V Winner of Irish/Newcastle
15.00 Winner of Wigan/Sale V Winner of Wasps/Leicester

Plate Semi finals (Best Performing 1st Round Losers):
15.20 A v B
15.40 C v D

Main Semi Finals:
16.00 Winner of 14.00 Quarter Final v. Winner of 14.20 Quarter Final
16.20 Winner of 14.40 Quarter Final v. Winner of 15.00 Quarter Final

Plate Final:
16.40 Winner of AB v. Winner of CD

Main Final:
17.10