Preview

The Oldest Sevens Tournament in Wales, held at the home of Old Penarthians RFC, will be contested for the 61st consecutive year at Cwrt-y-vil Playing Fields, Lavernock Road, Penarth this Saturday, May 22.

The event is being staged one week later than is traditional because the WRU extended the league season due to the poor weather earlier in the year.

At least the tournament should be played in more favourable conditions, allowing the players to exhibit their skills at this highly enjoyable day in the rugby calendar.

The tournament started in 1950 as the brainchild of the then Honorary Secretary, Bill Whittaker, and it has traditionally been competed for on the third Saturday of May every year since.

The tournament was initially played at the Penarth County School and it remained the home of the event until 1963, with one year’s sabbatical to Cogan in 1951.

In May 1964 the event was the first function to be held at the newly completed clubhouse in St Marks Road, which at the time was devoid of furniture or fittings and members satisfied the thirst of the spectators by pulling pints from casks set up on trestle tables!

The original concept was to involve Old Boys sides from throughout South Wales who would take part by invitation. Old Cantonians and the hosts have, in fact, been involved in each of the 60 previous events and Cardiff HSOB, Old Illtydians, Old Breconians, Ysgol Glantaf OB and St Josephs OB maintain the original tradition.

Nevertheless, changing times have reduced the availability of the Old School entrants and the competition would not exist without the new sides.

In recent years the Young Ospreys and Baby Blues have competed for their regions, a French side from Arras has competed, and this year sees the introduction of a team competing under the name of the Covenant Brothers whose players hail from Fiji.

England has also been represented by the Voyageurs from London and Loughborough Colleges. Unfortunately a team from the home of Sevens, Scotland, have not yet competed. Perhaps next year.

The invited teams who will enter the draw are: Ysgol Glan Taf OB; Cowbridge GSOB; Covenant Brothers; South Wales Fire Service; Old Penarthians; Old Cantonians; Glamorgan Wanderers OB; Old Breconians; Tregaron OB; Meibion Plasmawr; Old Illtydians; St Josephs OB; Rumney CSOB; Cardiff HSOB; Kratos Titans; Cardiff & District.

The first round winners progress into the next round of the Main Trophy Competition whilst the losers continue their efforts in the Plate Competition. The remaining rounds are played on a knock-out basis to decide the winners of both competitions.

The inaugural winners were Old Penarthians and the most successful side in the tournament has been Caerphilly GSOB, with nine victories from 13 finals. There is also a Player of the Tournament Trophy, initiated in 1974, and awarded to the player who has made the biggest impact on the day. The first winner was Neil Collins of St Josephs.

The only person to have won the award twice is David Bishop of Old Illtydians and three brothers have gained the trophy, all of Caerphilly GSOB, Andrew, David and Paul Phillips.

Another winner in 2003 was Rory McAtee who last year was one of the successful Wales Sevens squad who won the World Cup in Dubai.

However, perhaps the most memorable winner was Mark Ring, who within two hours of returning home from a tour to South Africa with Cardiff RFC, was playing for Old Illtydians.

It is this type of spirit and enjoyment of rugby that sets the Old Penarthians Seven-a-Side Tournament apart from other rugby events, in that it allows the famous and not-so-famous to rub shoulders in a competitive atmosphere to provide enjoyment for an enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience.

Ysgol Glantaf OB will be hoping to retain their title even if they do not have the services of their former pupil and water boy, Jamie Roberts, who is likely to be on duty with Cardiff Blues in the final of the Amlin Cup the following day in Marseilles.

As usual the Sevens tournament kicks off at 2pm with the final of the main competition due to start at 6.30pm. Free parking is available on the ground although admission is by programme priced at £2.