The all new Middlesex 7s festival

The Middlesex 7s Festival is returning to Richmond Athletic Ground Sunday April 30th and this year it promises to be bigger and better than ever.
The competition has changed its name to the Middlesex 7s Festival to reflect the fact that it has truly embraced the flavour of modern sevens rugby, welcoming open teams as well as its core club teams.
More than 60 teams are expected to compete on 30th April in men’s, women’s and student competitions at every level of the game from serious to social. All competitions are played in pools, leading to final knock-out rounds to ensure that participating teams get as many games as possible, with cash prizes for the winners of every competition.
The festival will also host an open competition, meaning that teams such as those competing at Summer Social, Rugby Rocks or Bournemouth 7s are now able to participate in the legendary Middlesex 7s. The winners will qualify for the RFU National 24/Sevens series.
The organisers have promised that this year, the Middlesex 7s Festival will be bigger and better than ever with more competitions and more prizes, as well as plenty of food and drink, picnicking, partying and non-stop play across seven pitches at Richmond.
The 7s Festival is now Middlesex Rugby’s flagship event, attracting teams from across the South East. Launched as the Middlesex Club 7s at Harlequins in 1999, the competition originally ran qualifying rounds across the county in the preceding weeks. It moved to Richmond in 2002 where, aptly, seven competitions were played simultaneously across seven pitches. Each year the format has grown to accommodate first students and women’s sevens, then Merit Table sevens.

The addition this year of a Super BUCS 7s for elite student teams and an In2Touch mixed touch rugby competition widens the appeal still further.
Festival chairman David Gershlick is keen to point out that whilst the traditional club teams are still at the core of the competition, the festival is evolving. “We have to move with the times” he explains, “and that means embracing new formats and new ideas. Sevens rugby forms part of the RFU’s strategy to develop community rugby in all its formats, and we’re delighted to be playing our own part in growing the game.”
The closing date for team entries is Wednesday 12th April. To enter a team visit www.middlesex7s.com/enter.