The Sons of Serevi head into the second tournament of the season at the Church Sevens in London, fielding an experimental side as they aim to add a second trophy to the cabinet. While familiar faces such as skipper Alex Mead, front- rower Paddy Edinborough and Scott Allen - who made his only appearance in the Sons' debut at Ashby last year. Joining them for their Sons' debuts will be Sons' touch rugby star James Parker, Andrew Pearson and John Lohan of King's College Hospital RFC, David Whitelam (who has been tempted out of retirement to play for the Sons) and the club's allocated overseas player Brock Baillie who has moved to the UK from Australia just to wear the Sons' colours. "It shows how far the Sons have come that we can now attract such global stars as Brock," enthused Chief Stickler, Sons of Serevi chairman. "While i'm saddened not to be there due to personal reasons and a dubious rash, I will be there in spirit - when the boys kick off i will stand in their honour and sing our anthem. There will be tears." Holding an enviable 100 per cent victory record that stretches back one match, the Sons will be under pressure to perform. And who'd bet against them doing just that? Not I, or any sane man for that matter.

For the first time ever - without the aid of at least five players from another team - the Sons of Serevi won a competitive game of sevens rugby and with it captured the much cherished Jug at the Wye Valley Brewery Sevens at Luctonians in Herefordshire. Despite a poor start that saw them fall to four group defeats, the Sons still showed glimpses of promise whether it was the bullocking runs of new chairman Chief Stickler who grabbed his first try for the Sons in a rolling maul powered by the Edinborough brothers and Rhys Watkins or the impressive debuts of Steve McGrath, Elwyn Clarke and Dan O'Driscoll. While McGrath proved to be the battering ram of a player that the Sons have often needed, O'Driscoll showed some deft touches and slight of hand and Clarke proved a steadying influence in the backline. Ashleigh Walters also showed the kind of skills that made the Sons snap him up at Cwmtawe last term (at which he showed a natural skill for putting leaflets on car windscreens that we felt could be transferred to the rugby field somehow). Needless to say, the Sons did their bit for the opposition by allowing the other team in the group without a win - an international select VII team of, ahem, girls to have some glory and dutifully capitulated at the end to allow them to take full points. The Sons, unlike other sides, are gentlemen first and rugby players second, well, okay maybe not second perhaps rugby players eighth or something. Anyhow, back to the match report. With the Sons now guaranteed a place in the Jug final against the Merit Table Maurauders, the scene was set for a stunning match. With the minor finals out of the way, the crowd gathered for the Jug final and were treated to the sight of the majestic Sons running onto the pitch to the Rocky theme tune - fitting for such a team of battlers. As you'd expect, the Sons rose to the occasion like an old man on viagra and took an early lead through the pacey O'Driscoll, the Mauraders matched the score before McGrath burst through for the Sons' second. Again the Mauraders matched it before Sons' skipper Alex Mead followed up some good work from Clarke to take the ball all of one yard over the line. In the second half, the Sons started like men possessed with the Edinborough brothers again running riot before Mead picked up the spoils of some good forward play to extend the Sons lead. Being the crowd pleasers that they are, the Sons allowed the opposition to close the gap to a handful of points to keep the game alive, but ultimately our heroes held on for an historic win. You had to be there, you really did, brought a tear to the eye. The Sons of Serevi bandwagon just keeps rolling - who can stop it? On this form, it might just take the old man himself to teach his inspired Sons a lesson or two.

Elsewhere, the Sons have denied suggestions that they've been asked to compete in next year's Heineken Cup to bolster the tournament's flagging reputation should the French and English clubs boycott the event. "I know we would add considerable public interest – what with us being a bigger rugby brand than the All Blacks and all – but I can catergorically deny that the organisers have offered us £2,500,000 plus a new beer fridge for the team bus to compete," stated chairman Chief Stickler. "I can also deny that we've been granted a spot at next year's World Cup in place of Scotland due to their rubbishness. I'd also like to deny the rumours that I'm currently having an affair with Kelly Brook, Katherine jenkins and Lucy Pinder - "I'm only seeing two of them! And, for any children reading this, I'd finally like to deny the existence of Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny. Sorry kids, it's time you all knew."

Following the disappointment of the opening tournament that never was at Llandaff North, the Sons of Serevi confidently head to Leominster this weekend to compete at the Wye Valley Brewery Sevens. While a full Sons' team has never won a competitive match at sevens, the side have high hopes of all that changing on Saturday. "We've culled the larger squad down from about 250 to an elite matchday squad of eight," said Alex Mead, the Sons' skipper. "We're likely to start with the same forward line-up as last time with original sons Chief, Paddy and Rhys all starting. We did get offers from numerous players from the Blues' region wanting to play for us, but after watching them capitulate to the Ospreys we decided to stick with what we've got." In the backs the Sons are strengthed by the presence of Brammers' Ashleigh and new signing Elwyn Clarke, while Steve Edinborough - brother of Paddy - may well be reverting from forward to back to bolster the defence. "The main thing about this weekend is we want to look good. That's why we've got a new shirts, socks and shorts and, i personally, have bought some cracking new boots. We're going to look f****** awesome. Well, until we play that is."

The Sons of Serevi camp face anxious wait ahead of the season opener at Llandaff North this weekend following a back injury to skipper Alex Mead. While making his debut for Kings College Hospital, Mead was injured following a courageous challenge on an opposite number - believed to be about 7ft tall and weighing 17stone - and had to leave the field of play 20 minutes before the end. Newcastle's Toby Flood has been on standby in case Mead fails to pull through. "After the disappointment of not playing on Saturday when Jonny [Wilkinson] came through, it's an honour to be waiting in the wings to fill the might boots of Alex Mead," Flood didn't say yesterday. "I can't deny i'm nervous at the prospect of playing for the Sons so hopefully Alex will make it in time," he didn't admit. Sons spokesperson Chief Stickler added: "We're all keeping our fingers, toes and eyes crossed in the hope he pulls through - it would be an almighty blow if he couldn't play." From the physio room, Mead could only comment: "Ow, my back hurts."

Keep your eyes on www.sonsofserevirfc.zoomshare.com for more news.

The Sons of Serevi today announced its wider squad ahead of the season opener at Barnados 7s on 4th March at Llandaff North RFC in Cardiff. Such has been the widespread fame gained by the Sons of Serevi following their spectacular entrance onto the sevens' scene last year, the squad has rocketed into double figures this term thanks to the inclusion of exciting new talent such as James Parker and Mike Wilson. What's more with original Sons Chief 'Tank' Stickler, Rhys 'Chunk' Watkins and Adam 'Paddy'Edinborough returning to the fray the Sons will be stronger than ever. "Thanks to these new boys, we reckon we may even be able to field a backline full of backs this season," says Alex Mead, captain of the Sons of Serevi. "What's more we've got these awesome kits this year which will make us look even better than we did last term - and that takes some doing because, as all the ladies will agree, we looked damn good last year." The Sons are in intensive training at the moment, having reduced their alcohol intake to just three barrels of Magners a week (from eight) and it's reported some of the players have even been involved in a spot of horizontal jogging in a bid to get fit. "Although how fit you can get from three minutes exercise a week is debatable," adds Mead. Either way you can be sure fans of the Sons will be treated to a feast of tries once again this sevens' season - and you never know the Sons might even score a few themselves.

Sons of Serevi - elite 'wider' squad
FORWARDS:
Rhys Watkins
Chief Stickler
Adam Edinborough
Steve Edinborough
Steven Irish
Jason Hori
Mike Wilson
Alex Price

BACKS:
Alex Mead
Pete Irish*
Andrew Irish
Chris Nehls**
Scott Allen
James Parker
Ashleigh Walters
Elwyn Clarke

(* injured at time of going to press, ** unsure of rugby/girlie football life balance)