Despite the difficulties in securing a sponsor for the 65^th  National Schools Sevens Tournament, we were “saved” by Wooden Spoon at the 11^th hour, ensuring the continuing success of the event.

Wooden Spoon is “Rugby’s charity supporting disadvantaged children and young people”; thus advantaged children can be supporting less advantaged children through the joint venture between Rosslyn Park and Wooden Spoon.  Rosslyn Park is delighted to be in partnership with Wooden Spoon and this year’s Tournament proved to be a major success.

We had 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.  Ivybridge should be congratulated on their win, as 14 years ago the coach then as now, Malcolm Collins, said that he was so delighted they could take part, even though they had only just started playing rugby. Malcom is very much responsible for Ivybridge’s success.

Millfield did have success however by winning 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 1991, 1992, 1995,1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 were defeated in the semis by Taunton School – proving that no school is invincible.

St. Olave’s, York in the Preparatory Schools Tournament, defeated Sandroyd by 45 – 5.  Sandroyd had never reached the final before, so many congratulations to them and their master i/c Paul Fowler

The Juniors Tournament was won by Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, who defeated Halliford by 15-14.  Neither of these schools had reached the final before so also congratulations to both teams

Wycombe High School, coached by Mike Hale, won the Girls Tournament by defeating the reigning champions, Rickmansworth.  Wycombe High are new comers to the Girls circuit, so congratulations to them

As always, the Tournament seems to have a “first” – this year w saw 2 firsts, if there is such a thing!  A young team from Bucharest participated in the Tournament in the Colts competition.  There being there was the direct result of John Broadfoot from IRB SOS Kit Aid and Rose Tanner, the Tournament Organiser, being in Romania last year.  The President of the Romanian Rugby Federation was asked if he would like to send a team to the Tournament and the rest is history.  The players were hosted by families from Whitgift school in Surrey and various sight seeing trips were planned for them, including the Twickenham Experience and the London Eye.  Robert Horner, President of the RFU hosted a dinner for them and other guests, including the Romanian Ambassador, in the President’s Suite at Twickenham, for which we must thank Robert.

Our other “first” and certainly the last at least for 4 years, was, thanks to the RFU, the Webb Ellis Trophy being in attendance at the Tournament.  The arrangements and security to have “Bill” there were vastly complicated but on the Wednesday everyone had the opportunity to have their photo taken alongside the Trophy.  Woe betide anyone who got too close or even tried to touch the glass cabinet which housed this magnificent Trophy.

We must as always thank all the Control Managers, referees, helpers, groundstaff, ball boys, Phil and Craig Brown who run the results service,  and yet another “first” under-graduates from Exeter University who were a real asset to the smooth running of the Tournament – many thanks to Tom Butt and his friends.

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