The Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens is an English rugby union sevens tournament, organised by Rosslyn Park F.C., that has evolved into the world's largest rugby tournament with some 9,500 boys and girls aged 13 – 19 competing annually from over 800 schools.[1] There are now well over 1,100 matches on the 5 groups of pitches (each one having its own Ground Management Team) every year. A separate tournament for the U11 age group takes place the week before.
Originally a tournament played amongst British public schools, the tournament has evolved and expanded over the years and now accepts sides from all over the world. Countries from which schools have participated included Canada, China, Denmark, Guernsey, Hungary, India, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Kenya, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Spain, and the Ukraine as well as England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Format
The play for the tournament is centred on Wimbledon Common and adjoining land to the south, where there are 24 pitches having outgrown the original home of the tournament at Rosslyn Park's home ground at nearby Priory Lane.[2] All the pitches are close together and there is just a short walk between them all.
Each Tournament has a similar format of Group matches on the first day with possibly a knockout round or two. The second day is for the knockout rounds, which culminate in the relevant Final. The Junior Tournament and the Preparatory Tournament (both under 13s) start on the Monday, the Festival (one term rugby schools) starts Tuesday, the Colts (under 16s) Wednesday, and the Girls Tournament and Open Tournament (both under 18s) start on Thursday.
History
There has been some recent speculation (November 2008) about the reasons for the Schools 7s' inception. Research by Richard Cable of the BBC shows that Rosslyn Park started holiday games for schoolboys following the Great War. [1] These were held in January and were believed to be in commemoration of Rosslyn Park members killed in action. This was the beginning of a strong link between the club and youth rugby – something that continues to this day. In 1938, it was known that an internal tournament took place at the club in which members played as old boys representing their schools. The following year, and possibly as a result of some disagreement among the members as to whose school was better at "rugger", the Schools 7s was born.
The event was first held in 1939 and has been held every year since, becoming one of the oldest continuous tournaments for schools and the oldest ongoing schoolboy rugby tournament in England. The first tournament was won by St George's School, Harpenden, which was a fee-paying independent school at that time. It was intended to be a knock-out competition for English public schools but as interest grew it was extended to include state schools (both grammar and comprehensive) and preparatory schools. The format was also changed into pool groups so that no U16 or girls side played fewer than three matches and no U18 boys side fewer than four. Almost all the founding 16 schools compete to this day and, although it remains an invitation event, no eligible school would be refused entry upon application. In 1956, the Preparatory Schools competition was started for IAPS schools and in 1973 the Juniors (U13s) were held for the first time. In March 1997, a new competition was introduced for the U16s and it has been the policy during the past few years to invite schools from overseas who may be touring the UK to play in the tournament. Each year the number of schools applying increases. In 1998, the first girls (U18) competition was inaugurated, and a recent popular inclusion has been a sevens challenge match between Old Boys RFCs, the first of which was between Ampleforth and Millfield, who between them have won the senior tournaments a remarkable 21 times.
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Recent tournaments
In recent years Millfield have enjoyed the most success in the 'Open', although in 2004 Ivybridge Community College pipped them in the final, just 14 years after the school took up the sport. John Fisher School appeared in four Open finals between 1997 and 2009, winning twice. After Ben Gollings (currently world record points scorer on the IRB 7s circuit) took his Canford side to success in the 1997 Festival, the trophy was won either by Wellington or Cheltenham until Colston's School Bristol broke the trend in 2006. The 2003 final seemed certain to be a record five on the trot for Wellington with their impressive international line-up, but Cheltenham turned round a 0-12 half-time deficit to win. Cheltenham repeated their triumph the following year by beating Taunton, before Wellington College won again in 2005. Colston's won in 2006 (despite normally playing in the Open) and King's College, Taunton in 2007 after going close in previous years.
Colston's made history in 2007 by becoming the first school to win both the Open (U18 Boys) and the Girls' (U18) tournaments. Benenden School, in only its first season of rugby, pushed them all the way in the final before eventually losing 19–17. Colston's girls could not repeat their feat in 2008, falling to East Norfolk 6th Form College in a high-quality game, while Sedbergh won the Open Tournament. The 2008 tournament was broadcast live on the internet and was watched in over 30 countries.
In the 2009 tournament. Millfield continued their success, winning both the Open and the Colts tournament. In the Festival, Epsom College was defeated by Wellington College, while Neath Port Talbot ended Colston's Girls' dominance to take the title. In 2010, Millfield won the Open, Colts and Prep Schools tournaments; Tonbridge School beat Wellington in the Festival and Hartpury cruised to the Girls' title.
In 2011, HSBC became the tournament's sponsor. By now, the event had four separate food outlet centres, 32 exhibitors and a large screen for results and advertising. Film highlights from the previous day were uploaded the next morning and mixed with the advertising content on a large LED screen. On the pitch, Millfield's recent dominance faded and they failed to make the next day's play-off rounds in any of the competitions. South Gloucestershire and Stroud College won the Open, Hartpury College won the Girls' title and Tonbridge won the Colts.
In 2015 Wellington College beat John Fisher in the final 12–7. In 2016, Cranleigh School, one of the smaller schools in the competition, beat Harrow School to take the trophy, and repeated their success the following year by defeating Brighton College 28–7 in the final.
All the results are updated on the official website throughout each day.[2]
Video of matches
The rugby sevens matches played on main pitch RE1 are filmed. Video of these matches are live streamed and can be watched on YouTube: Playlist here.
