I can imagine it now, RU player kicks it, then an RL player takes the ball and carves up the whole team. Let them enter and embarrass themselves. I should imagine it wouldn't be a full strength team anyhow.

If England bring their Sevens squad that is currently playing on the IRB tour, they'll be in with a really good chance of winning it IMO.

The core of that side has been together over a number of years and are specialists at the reduced form of the union game. They've got a smattering of big lads (take a look at Isoa Damudamu if you don't believe me) but some real pace and athleticism across the side to go with it.

Given they'll primarily be up against kids from SL sides Under 20s, this could end up being quite the PR coup for the RFU.

No first teamers will be risked in this competition. It would be good if they were tho, so we can get one over our southern counterparts.

England RL 9s team would look like this in my opinion.

Tomkins
BJB
Watkins
Charnley
Burrow
Roby
Haughton - Need a couple of players who can tackle

But as it will only be academy players who will play there is no point in giving the RFU any more publicity by them winning it.

After watching a fair bit of the RU sevens circuit in the last year or so there is no doubt that the teams have significantly increased in their conditioning and are faster and stronger than a few years back. The England team is a pretty athletic bunch and a SL squad would not beat them particularly in power and pace

Where they are still lacking though is in the exploitation of space and attacking invention – still far too many lateral passes and looking to go around the opposition. The days when Wigan and Bradford showed the 7’s teams how to attack through the line was a few years ago but the situation has not changed dramatically since then

With two more players on each side, I think this lack of invention would be even more apparent but the Union 7’s team would show up pretty well against a SL squad team. Will be interesting to watch if it comes off

Surely they would have a better chance with 9 players?

The England 7s squad is generally players who have been signed up to full time contracts solely for 7s. They tend to be players outside of the premiership who are unlikely to make it in the 15 a side game. Never the less, they have great experience in this game and their fitness must be very high. They still have a few oversized, under skilled guys though. I think they'd win the Carnegie 9's against SL reserve teams.

Like who?

The fitness required to tackle and retreat will kill them.

Would the RFU spin machine really crow about their very best 7s players beating a group of kids to pick up a mid-week trophy?

Matt stevens doubt he would get a run out.

Matt Stevens isn't in the England 7's squad.