England 7s-Ollie Phillips back in training for World Series

Former England Sevens captain Ollie Phillips

Phillips, 29, captained England when they clinched the Wellington and London tournament titles in 2009, the year he claimed the IRB international award.

The wing is a free agent since leaving Stade Francais this summer is back in action after completing his rehabilitation from a knee injury.

He is training with head coach Ben Ryan's 12 full-time Sevens players and other 'core' squad members like Isoa Damudamu (British Army), Marcus Watson (Saracens) and Olly Lindsay-Hague (Harlequins) ahead of the start of the series in Australia at the end of next month.

The nine-event series kicks off with three back-to-back tournaments on in Gold Coast (November 25-26), Dubai (December 3-4) and Port Elizabeth (December 10-11).

England Sevens head coach Ryan told The Rugby Paper: “Having Ollie with us adds further competition for places.

"He has seen the quality around him, and how standards have improved dramatically since he was last with us so he understands he has a fight on his hands to get into the squad.

"But he has rehabbed well from the knee injury that has kept him out since June. He was running all last week and everything is going to plan on that front. Ollie brings energy to the group and we’re delighted to have him involved again.”

Two of the full-time sevens contingent warmed up for their week's training in Teddington in contrasting styles at the weekend.

Leading try scorer Dan Norton scored four tries for Hartpury at Shelford in National League Two - taking his tally to 10 in three games as he looks for match sharpness - while forward James Rodwell made a half-marathon appearance, running the BUPA Great Birmingham Run in 1:50:26.