Sarries draw 7s champions

By Jason Harris
July 10 2002

Saracens will kick off this year's Middlesex Charity 7s at Twickenham on 17 August with a game against last year's champions and the team that knocked out the Men in Black at the semi-final stage, The Army.

Sarries have a good recent record at the event with two losing final appearances and two semi finals in the last four years, but will still find it tough against the title holders and conquerors of, amongst others, London Wasps in the past two tournaments

The field of 16 sides, including Super League champions Bradford Bulls and former winners Wigan Warriors, there are no easy first round ties for the Zurich Premiership contingient. Leeds Tykes take on the Bulls and there is a north west derby as Wigan play against the Sale Sharks.

Bath, along with Sarries, avoid ZP opposition as they play the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment in round one with the remaining ties being all-Zurich affairs. Quins take on Gloucester, Saints play Bristol, Irish are pitted against Newcastle and the round is closed out by a game between Leicester and Wasps.

The first round draw in full plus scheduled kick-off times:

British Army v Saracens (11.20)
Princess of Wales Royal Regiment v Bath (11.40)

Leeds Tykes v Bradford Bulls (12.00)
NEC Harlequins v Gloucester (12.20)

Northampton Saints v Bristol Shoguns (12.4)
London Irish v Newcastle Falcons (13.00)

Wigan Warriors v Sale Shakrs (13.20)
London Wasps v Leicester Tigers (13.40)

The quarter finals will be between the winners of the ties paired together above and in turn the winners of each quarter of the draw will progress to the last four.

The plate competition, however, will consist only of the four "best performing" first round losers. So if Sarries are badly beaten in the opening tie of the tournament, they're day's work could be over before midday. The plate final will take place at 4.40pm and the final proper rounding off events at 5.10pm