Mitchell to captain Team GB Sevens

3:10 PM GMT

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  Tom HamiltonRugby Editor

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  • Joined ESPN in 2011
  • Grew up in Bath but has New Zealand roots
  • Covered England's tour of New Zealand in 2014 and Australia in 2016
  • Was ESPN's man on the ground for the 2013 British & Irish Lions series and Rugby World Cup 2015

LONDON -- Tom Mitchell will captain Team GB's men's Sevens side at the Rio Olympics, and Scotland's Mark Bennett is the only 15s international to make the cut.

Wales' Cory Allen was in the mix for a spot in the 12-man squad but he misses out, with 16-cap Bennett named alongside Harlequins' Ollie Lindsay-Hague and Newcastle's Marcus Watson. Eight England players make the squad, with two Welshmen and two Scotsmen completing the line-up.

"Through the extraordinary GB spirit that has been created over the last seven weeks, all the players involved in the wider training squad have pushed themselves, and each other, to the limit," Team GB men's coach Simon Amor said. "They have fought and fought for places each day. It has been incredibly competitive, and the group has become very close in a short space of time.

"We have named a talented and experienced squad of 12 players today which we believe offers the right combinations and complementing skill sets needed to be successful in Rio. It has however been a 27-player effort and recognition must go to every player involved in the programme, as well as the hard working and exceptional management team."

Emily Scarratt will skipper Team GB's women's side at Rio that features a number of the England contingent that won the 2014 World Cup, with just one of the 12 players from Wales and none from Scotland making the cut.

"This is a hugely exciting moment for women's rugby with Sevens making its debut at the Olympic Games, and we believe we have selected the best possible group of players to achieve success in Rio," Team GB women's coach Simon Middleton said.

"The World Series this season proved how competitive the women's rugby sevens circuit is and we're very much looking forward to competing against the very best as a Team GB squad.

"The strength and depth of the wider training squad has not made the final selection easy. The players have been together since October and have trained so hard and really pushed the standards up of this group. I would like to thank the players who didn't make the final squad for their fantastic contribution and putting us in the best possible place to play in Rio."

Men's squad

Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Dan Bibby (England Sevens), Phil Burgess (England Sevens), Sam Cross (Wales Sevens), Alex Davis (England Sevens), James Davies (Scarlets), Ollie Lindsay-Hague (Harlequins), Tom Mitchell (England Sevens -- captain), Dan Norton (England Sevens), James Rodwell (England Sevens), Mark Robertson (Scotland Sevens), Marcus Watson (Newcastle Falcons)

Travelling reserves: Luke Treharne (Wales Sevens), Ruaridh McConnochie (England Sevens)

Women's squad

Claire Allan (England Sevens), Abbie Brown (England Sevens), Heather Fisher (England Sevens), Natasha Hunt (England Sevens), Jasmine Joyce (Wales Sevens), Katy McLean (England Sevens), Alice Richardson (England Sevens), Emily Scarratt (England Sevens), Emily Scott (England Sevens), Danielle Waterman (England Sevens), Joanne Watmore (England Sevens), Amy Wilson-Hardy (England Sevens)

Travelling reserves: Megan Jones (England Sevens), Kay Wilson (England Sevens)

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Mitchell to captain Team GB Sevens