News
On 17th February 2013, Christ College will be hosting its 23nd invitational rugby sevens tournament, which is sponsored by the Royal Welsh Regiment.
The tournament is considered to be the premier schools sevens tournament in Wales and has established itself as one of the most popular, competitive tournaments in the UK schools' sevens calendar.
Former winners include Millfield, Kirkham, St Edwards Oxford, Wellington College, St Josephs Ipswich, Stonyhurst, Llandovery College, Ellesmere College and of course Christ College.
In addition to the senior invitational tournament, an U13s invitational 7s tournament will be played for the Alway House Cup which will culminate in a final being played as a curtain-raiser for the Senior tournament.
Would visitors please note that Car Parking on the Christ College site will be restricted to Visiting Teams mini-buses and those with issued car passes.
Visitors are also asked to kindly respect that no dogs are allowed on the Christ College playing fields.
The tournament kicks off at 10.00am. Visit the competition microsite (link below) to vote for your team!
Preview:
Group A
Campion have had a mixed season and have not been able to match their 2006 Sevens form that saw them make the semi-final here and the final at the Nationals (they lost both matches to Millfield). Christ College are having a good season and in Iolo Morgan and Bentley Halpin they have two players who can turn a match. James Dale is also one to watch. St Edwards Oxford won the competition in 2002 and whilst not having a vintage season they did beat Cheltenham College and will be a threat. The Kings School Worcester have only lost two matches this year: one to a very strong Monmouth side and another to Northampton School for Boys in the sixth round of the Daily Mail cup. Wellington School have had a tough year and will be hoping to avenge a narrow 1 point loss to Christ College in November.
Predicted Group Winners: The Kings School, Worcester
Group B
Bristol Grammar School had a tough start to the season and at one point had as many as 10 squad players out with injury. They finished the season strongly with a win over local rivals Clifton College and will look to build on that. Monmouth will go into the group full of confidence after beating Bristol Grammar 55-5 earlier in the year. They have had a good year with victories over Blundell’s, Colstons and Kings Worcester. Ellesmere have enjoyed a perfect XV season and put 34 points on Daily Mail quarter finalists Wilmslow High School. If they click as a Sevens side they will be a match for anyone. Last year’s Finalists Bryanston have beaten Millfield, Daily Mail Cup quarter finalists Sherborne and Canford this year. The aptly named George Trick has serious pace and Tom Wolstencroft has been in fine form. Rydal Penrhos are always competitive but went down this year heavily to Wirral Grammar and Kings Macclesfield. They will be looking for an improved performance to last year where they struggled in the group.
Predicted Group Winners: Bryanston School
Group C
Blundell’s have had a solid season, doing very well in the Daily Mail (including a win against Millfield) and should challenge for qualification. They will be looking for revenge against fellow group members Cheltenham who knocked them out of the cup last year. Cheltenham went out in the following round to Millfield and have had a tough year winning only 4 from 11. They will find it a tough group. Kirkham have only the one loss to Bromsgrove on their report card this year. They have many Lancashire County players to choose from and recently halted Kings Macclesfield’s perfect season earning a draw. It was fellow group member Llandovery who knocked them out of the cup in 2012. The Welsh School are traditionally one of the strongest on the circuit and won the competition last year (having been runners up in 2011). They may go all the way this year. Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg were knocked out at the semi-final stage last year. A heavy loss to Christ College Brecon earlier in the season indicates they might not be as strong this year.
Predicted Group Winners: Llandovery College
Group D
Hereford Cathedral School have had a tough year and will be hopping to find some form on the Sevens Circuit as they build towards the Nationals. Malvern College will be looking to do better than last year where they lost every match. They had a good win over King Edwards Bath this season and will hope to find that form again. Millfield, winners in 2005, 2006 and 2009, will go into the group with confidence. They have had another good year including comfortable wins over Monmouth and Llandovery. Old Swinford Hosptial lost narrowly in the fourth Round of the Daily Mail cup to Kings Worcester and have had a mixed season. We expect them to perform well in this group and then look to catch their knock out opponents cold. Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf are another side that has had a mixed season with a good win over Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg but a loss to Christ College on their record.
Predicted Group Winners: Millfield School
