The Gloucester squad for the first action of the new season this weekend has been named ahead of the Premiership Rugby 7s at Franklin’s Gardens starting on Friday evening.

The Gloucester squad is made up of senior and academy squad members, with first involvement in the Cherry and White jersey for a number of exciting players.

Friday night sees the action kick off, with the Cherry and Whites set to take on holders hosts Northampton Saints and holders Wasps Rugby.

The squad will be captained by Scotland Under 20 scrum half Charlie Chapman, with senior squad back rowers Gareth Evans and Will Safe both included.

Senior academy squad members Alex Morgan, Aaron Hinkley, Dom Coetzer, Tom Seabrook, Jacob Morris, Jack Reeves and Ewan Fenley are named, with Under 18 duo Jack Clement and Louis Rees-Zammit completing the 12-man squad at head of academy Rich Whiffin’s disposal.

Whiffin is looking forward to seeing the young squad seize the opportunity on the big stage, and lay down an early season marker to the Gallagher Premiership of the Cherry and White’s pre-season preparation ahead of the start of the new season in a month’s time.

“We have had good success in recent seasons in the Premiership Rugby Sevens, and we use it as an opportunity for our young players to go out and express themselves,” Whiffin said.

“We’ve been drawn in a really exciting pool group, and there’s a chance to really test our skillset and how our players cope under pressure in what will be a great atmosphere at Franklin’s Gardens across the weekend.”

The competition will again take on the 2-day format, with the pool stages on Friday evening, followed on Saturday by the knockout stages.

Gloucester will take on hosts Northampton Saints in their opening game (18:38) and then holders Wasps Rugby (20:08) in their two Pool A fixtures on Friday evening.

Gloucester Rugby 7s squad for the Premiership Rugby 7s

1. Alex Morgan – a young winger from the club’s senior Academy, graduating from the Under 18 after a free-scoring season. The Welshman appears in the Premiership Rugby 7s for the first time

2. Ewan Fenley – scrum half who also graduated from the Under 18 squad, and is in his first year in the Senior Academy. A physical scrum half, who scored tries for fun in the Under 18 last season

3. Jacob Morris – flying winger who caught the eye in the Premiership Rugby 7s last season who is part of the club’s Senior Academy after representing England Under 18’s last season. Following in the footsteps of his Father who also played for Gloucester. Former Old Patesians and Bournside School

4. Jack Clement – promising young forward from the club’s Under 18 squad. Formerly of Bournside School before taking on a cricketing scholarship to Cheltenham College. Will be touring South Africa with England U18s in August.

5. Louis Rees-Zammit – winger approaching his second season in the Under 18 squad after impressing last season and also picking up his first caps for Wales Under 18s in the Spring, and will tour with Wales to South Africa next month. Part of the Gloucester squad that won the Rosslyn Park Floodlit Sevens in May.

6. Will Safe – back rower who graduated into the first team squad after a string of impressive displays in the Anglo-Welsh Cup last season.

7. Aaron Hinkley – Fresh from the World Rugby U20 Championships, dynamic back rower stars in the Premiership Rugby Sevens for the second summer running. Former St Peter’s School pupil who made his first team debut in the Anglo-Welsh Cup last season.

8. Gareth Evans – a powerful back rower who needs little introduction in the shortened format of the game. Evans is a winner of this competition with the Cherry and Whites and will look to lead a young side by example this weekend.

9. Charlie Chapman © – Captaining the squad this weekend, the Scotland U20 scrum half will look to build on his fine form from France and spark the Gloucester attacking game.

10. Dom Coetzer – a summer signing from the Stormer’s Academy, the Cape Town born fly half will make his first appearance in Cherry and White this weekend after an impressive few weeks in training.

11. Tom Seabrook – record-breaking winger Seabrook will look to take his attacking game to the Premiership Rugby Sevens after impressing in the competition last season. A scorer of the quickest Premiership debut try in Round 22 at Saracens in late April.

12. Jack Reeves – The son of an Olympic Bobsleigh Athlete, centre Reeves scored tries for fun for England U18’s Spring series, and for the club’s Under 18 squad after graduating through the system into the Senior Academy this summer. Making his bow in the Premiership Rugby Sevens this weekend. Formerly of Dursley RFC and Rednock School.

Gloucester confirm exciting young side to take on the Premiership Rugby 7s this weekend.