The Rosslyn Park Sevens National Schools Tournament
After 70 years, the ultimate of Youth Rugby Tournaments continues to flourish
and attracts new schools and eligible colleges each year
2008 will see over 650 squads in 6 separate Tournaments in one week: Juniors
(U13), Preparatory Schools, Colts (U16), Festival (U18 – 1 term rugby
schools), Open (U18 for any school), Girls (U18)
Kick off is at 10.20 on March 10th at the pitches on Wimbledon
Common and continues for four days. The finals of the Juniors, Preps, Colts
and Festival will be on the main pitches on Wimbledon Common and the final
rounds of the Girls and Open will be at Rosslyn Park on the Friday.
International stars of the future are likely to be on display when the world’s
largest rugby tournament takes place at Rosslyn Park FC from March 10th-14th.
The National Schools Sevens has gone from strength to strength since its
humble beginnings in 1939 and now features more than 7,000 boys and girls
aged 13 to 19 from around the world.
And some of the biggest names in the sport, including England stars Lawrence
Dallaglio, Phil de Glanville, Rory Underwood, Rob Andrew, Neil Back, Matt
Dawson and Paul Sackey have graced the playing fields of south-west London
in a bid to win the prestigious junior tournament, gaining valuable
experience in competitive rugby at a young age.
Sackey, who was one of England’s stars of the 2007 World Cup, had his passion
for rugby ignited by winning the National Schools Sevens with John Fisher
School of Purley, Surrey, in 1998.
“I was obsessed with football,” Sackey admitted. “Nothing else mattered. The
moment I became converted was when Lawrence Dallaglio presented me with a
trophy when I was about 18. Now, I’m playing alongside him - it’s surreal.
“Even though I’d been reluctant to play rugby, I was picked and we didn’t
concede a point until the final and we won the tournament. It was amazing.
There were loads of people watching and Lawrence was there to hand me the
cup. I didn’t know much about rugby but I knew about Dallaglio. I just
thought, ‘Wow, rugby’s not too bad after all.’”
In recent years, the competition has taken on a distinctly global feel with
teams from Switzerland, India, West Indies, Romania and the Ukraine bidding
for silverware, which is always handed out by a former international player.
The 2007 tournament saw prizes presented by former England captain Martin
Johnson.
The preliminary rounds of the 2008 tournament will be held on Wimbledon Common
with Rosslyn Park hosting the action from the quarter-finals onwards on
Friday March 14th. The final day of action will also see the
Millfield old boys in action.
The 69th National Schools Sevens tournament promises a feast of action and
maybe a glimpse at a future England captain?