The National Schools Sevens Tournament has been held every year, without a break, since 1939. At the outset there were 16 teams competing, this year more than 580 squads took part.
Wooden Spoon has now entered into a joint partnership with the event to secure the future of this, the world’s largest schools rugby tournament. This is a particularly exciting and appropriate partnership, as Wooden Spoon support children in their endeavours to play rugby and the National Schools Sevens Tournament provides an ideal opportunity for children not only to play, but to practice and enhance their skills.
The Wooden Spoon Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens experienced a kaleidoscope of weather, with sunshine, cold winds, monumental hail storms and the usual mud but the pitches, thanks to the efforts of the groundstaff, held up remarkably well. RAM Rugby supplied the post protectors and also for the first time the shirts for the referees, ball boys, officials, medical officers and groundstaff.
Ivybridge Community College defeated Millfield in the Open (2 term rugby schools) by 17-14. Fourteen years ago the coach, then as now, Malcolm Collins, brought a team along only just started playing rugby and he is very much responsible for Ivybridge’s success. Millfield secured victory, however, in the Colts (U16) Tournament by defeating Amman Valley by 43-5.
The Festival (one term rugby schools) was won for the second successive time by Cheltenham College who beat Taunton School by 17-7. Wellington College, who had won the title in seven out of the past 14 years, were defeated by Taunton in the semis.
St. Olave’s, York, in the Preparatory Schools Tournament, defeated Sandroyd by 45-5, Sandroyd never having reached the final before. The Juniors Tournament was won by Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, who defeated Halliford by 15-14, neither having been finalists previously.
Wycombe High School, new to the game and coached by Mike Hale, won the girls’ tournament by defeating the reigning champions, Rickmansworth. All results can be seen by visiting our website, www.ns.co.uk.
Any school wishing to enter for the first time, please contact the organisers on sevens@tannergrp.freeserve.co.uk.
