FOR Newcastle Falcons’ young star Glen Young rugby 7s is a game that runs in the family.

His cousins Lewis and Gregor Young have both been involved in the Scotland 7s fold and Glen has experience playing in the world’s oldest rugby sevens tournament at Melrose.

Now the 19-year-old is gearing up for the Premiership Rugby 7s where Newcastle take on Leicester Tigers, London Welsh and Sale Sharks at The Northern Echo Arena in Darlington on Saturday.

The sides will be vying to qualify from Group D and secure their spot at Twickenham Stoop’s Series finals - a feat the Falcons managed last year.

However, they failed to make an impact in the finals, but this time Young is hoping to go one step further.

“It’s a game I’ve been playing for a long time and my cousins are both in the Scotland set up,” he said.

“So I guess you could say it runs in the family and I played at the Melrose 7s when I was younger.

“I know the game well and so hopefully I can make an impact and help the team in some way.

“Last year we did well in the group and made it to the finals so at the very least that is what we want.

“But we definitely want to go one better because the finals didn’t go our way.”

Young is on the fringes of the Newcastle first team squad and believes the Premiership Rugby 7s gives young players the opportunity to accelerate their careers.

“Sevens is all about explosiveness and that is how we want to play,” he added.

“I think we can play that way and impose ourselves on the competition. We need those aggressive players who are hard to tackle.

“I think everyone’s ambition is to play in the first team and I am no different.

“We have quite a young squad and it is a chance for everyone to be able to play at a great venue and show what they can do.

“This is the chance for us to really make a name for ourselves and edge closer to that first team squad and, ultimately, the starting 15.”

  • Tickets for the Premiership Rugby 7s are now on sale. Contact a host club or head to premiershiprugby.com/7s