The HFW Wailers are an international invitation side that have close links with Newcastle Falcons and other Premiership teams. The wider Wailers squad includes players from Super 15, NPC, England, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa IRB 7s teams.

The ‘Wailers’ part of the name originates from a partnership with Dutch team Castricum RFC for the 2005 Amsterdam Sevens. The team then played it’s first official tournament at the Cwmtawe Sevens. Since then, it has played all over the world – in Amsterdam, Singapore, Dubai and at the prestigious Middlesex 7s.

The team is pleased to have HFW - a global law firm as its main sponsors.

The HFW Wailers aim to be ambassadors of the game wherever they are invited, by providing kit, coaching and other charitable endeavours, as well as playing an indomitable, shrewd and mercurial style of sevens.

Latest news

Wailers announce squad to defend title in Amsterdam!

Wailers announce squad to defend title in Amsterdam!

The HFW Wailers have announced a strong squad in defence of their title. It is as follows:

1 David Akinluyi (Nigeria 7s)

2 Ben Frankland (Westoe RFC)

3 Aaron Myers (Wharfedalle/ England 7s)

4 Hamish Smales (Tyndale / England 7s)

5 Dan Bibby (UWIC/ England 7s)

6 Josh Fowles (Macclesfield RFC)

7 Tyson Lewis (Plymouth Albion RFC)

8 Ollie Brennand (Fylde RFC)

9 Jamie Gibbs (Ealing Trail Finders)

10 Matty Outson (Tynedale RFC)

11 Joe Knowles (Lymm RFC)

Coach: Nick Gandy

Assistant Coach: Scott Riddell

Physio: Joe Darroch

Team Manager: Ed Midcalf

Director of Rugby: Andy Howells.

Dan Bibby is a current IRB England 7s international, so combined with the other members of the squad, many of whom have also played international 7s in recent times, the Wailers are hopeful of mounting a successful defence of the trophy so brilliantly won last year.

HFW Wailers lose in semi-finals at Bury St Edmunds

After emerging from their qualifying group with a strong performance, HFW Wailers then went on to reach the semi-finals, before losing to eventual winners and home team, Samurai Barracudas. The Wailers emerged from their group with Templars 7, who made the final after beating Northampton Saints in the semi-finals. In their quarter final, HFW Wailers thrashed the Marrauders, running in a series of tries in an excellent display of attacking sevens rugby.

Director of Rugby, Andy Howells said: “We’ve continued the good form we showed last year, by making the semi-finals despite some stiff opposition. In the quarter-finals in particular, we played the kind of rugby that the Wailers are renowned for and the result proved that. We’re disappointed to not come away from the tournament having won it, which we were clearly capable of doing. However, it is another strong performance by the team and augurs well for the coming season.”

The next tournament is in Amsterdam, where the Wailers defend the trophy they won last year.

HFW Wailers announce squad for Bury St Edmunds 7s

The Wailers have announced that their squad will be as follows:

1 Josh Fowles

2 Ben Frankland

3 Aaron Myers

4 Ben Sowery

5 Joe McKenzie

6 Hamish Smales

7 Tyson Lewis

8 Ollie Marchon

9 Joe Knowles

10 Gareth Kerr

11 Matthew Outson

12 Jamie Gibbs

In a tough tournament, which features teams such as long time adversaries Marauders, Templar 7s, Esher and Barracudas, HFW open with a game versus Templars 7, followed by pool games against Tigers and Akuma NWE.

The squad are keen to continue with the momentum gained in last year’s highly successful 7s season and have picked a strong group of players. The team will be coached by Nick Gandy, with Director of Rugby Andy Howells in support.