For the official comment on the 2003 tournament week by the organisers please read on . .

Complaints were forthcoming on Day 1 with school masters grumbling about hard pitches.  The response was generally “were you here last year?”  The referees ran out of water from time to time but the general attitude was one of geniality.

The Organisers had decided to hold the Juniors (U13) and the Preparatory Schools Tournaments at the beginning of the week as the younger players do not cause so much damage to pitches.  As it happened with the sunshine and no rain whatsoever, it was not an issue but the crowds were huge and the atmosphere very festive.  Some of the 13 year old players simply ran out of steam due to full size pitches and the warmth!  The Juniors was won by Bradford Grammar School, beating Christ’s Hospital 32-12.  Bradford had been runners-up in 1990 but Christ’s Hospital had never got to the final.  The Preparatory Schools was won by Millfield, beating Caldicott 19-14.  Millfield decided a year ago to re-name themselves from Edgarley Hall.  Millfield had been runners-up for the past 3 years and winners on several occasions before.

 The Festival, held on the Tuesday and Wednesday produced very exciting rugby.  The match between Wellington College and Pangbourne created a spectacle on one of the main pitches with a crowd of 5 deep.  Wellington looked the sure winners but had their applecart turned over in the Final when Cheltenham College turned their game around and won by 14 points to 12.  Ken Hopkins of Wellington was magnanimous in his loss by saying “perhaps it is good to have another school’s name engraved on the Challenge Cups”. Wellington would have won the Festival for five years running!

 The Colts (U16) was a very well contested Competition with Maes-Yr-Yrfa from Llanelli becoming the Winners in their first appearance at the Tournament.  Despite instruction from various Welsh nationals at the Tournament, we can only apologise for the announcers not being able to pronounce their name correctly.  The Royal Grammar School, Guildford lost to them in a very tough final 19-7.

 The Girls Tournament was won by Rickmansworth, beating Christ’s Hospital in the final by 28-5.  One of the Semi-Finals was interrupted by a “punch-up” between the opposing sides which caused much mirth from the spectators and the media but the referee had it under control and blew his whistle just in time for the end of game.

 The Open caused consternation between the soldiers of the Army, our sponsor, who had instigated a sweepstake, drawn out of the hat.  The favourites at the time were Llandovery and at one point it looked as if the semis would be all Welsh.  Millfield saved the England stand and eventually became the new National Schools 7s winners beating Strade by 33 points to 14.

 A Tournament to remember; wonderful weather, wonderful rugby and smiles all around, even from people who obviously have never smiled before at the Tournament.

 Thanks to The Army, especially the soldiers who always will do anything to help in a crisis and who lent our stalwart courier, Judith, a motorised scooter to ferry the results around the grounds, much to the amusement of all (She did become a very speedy courier by the end of day 1), all the referees, Ground Managers, volunteers, stewards, caterers, bar staff and exhibitors and last but certainly not least to the schools and their staff i/c rugby.

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