Sevens gap for Warriors flank

Worcester Warriors flank Richard De Carpentier is set to add an edge to his back row skills after being named in the England Sevens squad.

The 22 year-old has been added to the squad for two of the biggest events in the Sevens World Series calendar in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

"After the end of the LV=Cup period I had a chat with [Director of Rugby] Richard Hill and [Forwards Coach] Nigel Redman and they asked me if I wanted to come to the Sevens to hone my skills and improve my fitness; Sevens is going to do that for me," said De Carpentier, who appeared at the Edinburgh sevens for England in 2011.

"My first experience of England Sevens was good but I'd just come straight out of university and found it quite hard on the physical front.

"I hadn't done the weights I've done at Leicester and Worcester and wasn't as fit as I am now. It was interesting and a good experience and I'm looking forward to getting another taste of it now.

"The intensity carries over from your club into here but the mileage these guys do on a weekly basis takes some getting used to.

"The first week I came in we did over 30km which is a shock to the system and to the lungs, so that's the main difference. The intensity's the same and the skill accuracy is maybe better here because everyone has to be passing and catching really well," he explained.

Head coach Ben Ryan said: "I'm really pleased that Worcester have let him come into our set-up to train and play with us. If they want to develop an openside Sevens is only going to help him. It's going to take him out of his comfort zone, he's got to make good decisions around the breakdown and that's crucial at the highest level."

De Carpentier and former Moseley No.8 Mike Ellery are the forwards coming into the squad for Hong Kong where Samoa are England's first Pool C opponents on Friday. There are two more pool games the following day against Scotland and Portugal before Saturday’s knock-out stages.

Ellery signed for England Sevens last summer but makes his World Series debut after seven months recovering from a stress fracture in his back.

In his absence England overcame a tough start to the campaign by picking up the Wellington Sevens title last month and are aiming to force their way further up the table in the remaining four events of the season.