South Africa claim the celebratory sevens title
RUGBY School held another event to mark 200 years since the birth of the game last weekend, as U18 Schools sevens sides from across the world gathered for a tournament won by South African school Michaelhouse.
Michaelhouse defeated Irish school Blackrock College 21-19 despite going down to five players in the final, having lost to the same opposition in the previous day's group stages 24-12.
Next Gen XV covered the two-day event online, and co-founder Angus Savage said of the event was delighted his company's cameras had witnessed the event.
“It was the most amazing weekend of schoolboy rugby that I've been associated with,” he said. “And I've been knocking around the schoolboy doors for a fair while.
“It was unique and very special. As Michaelhouse lifted the trophy, there was genuine warmth and appreciation for what they've done and what happened over the weekend, it's been absolutely brilliant.”
The tournament is another part of Rugby School's bicentennial celebrations, with the “Global Pass”, 200 passes of a Gilbert match ball around the globe, still ongoing and the U14s Warwickshire club sevens having taken place yesterday, with more junior club sevens tournaments coming throughout April.
Twenty schools competed in all from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and of course South Africa.
Hosts Rugby, fresh from winning the Rosslyn Park National 7s vase earlier that week, came through the opening day and recorded an impressive day two win against New Zealand school Nelson College, but were beaten by Welsh side Whitchurch High School.
Whitchurch were heavily beaten by Michaelhouse in the quarter-finals though, who also brushed aside Welsh opposition in the semifinals as Llandovery College were beaten 26-5, with Llandovery having earlier beaten Rosslyn Park Cup semi-finalists Clifton College.
There was no English representation in the semi-finals, and British representation ended as Scottish side Merchiston lost to Blackrock, who went into the final as the only unbeaten side remaining.
But a crucial missed conversion cost the former school of Brian O'Driscoll, Leo Cullen, Hugo Keenan and Garry Ringrose in the final, whose loss was also the first of their sevens season at all.
Elsewhere last weekend the Sedbergh Super 10s tournament was won for a second consecutive year by Kirkham Grammar School, who defeated the hosts 17-5 in the final.
It was another final defeat for Sedbergh, who were winners of the previous three tournaments before last year.
“I can't believe it really,” said Kirkham coach and former Harlequins and Sale player Jonny Roddam.
“It was an outstanding effort from every single squad player. The minute these guys got on the bus from Kirkham on Saturday morning to the final whistle they've been in the zone.
“I couldn't have asked for anything more really. It's the last game for some of these boys, and there's no better way to finish your Kirkham career than lifting Sedbergh 10s trophy.”
It was the final act of a jam-packed weekend that rounded off another hugely entertaining season of schools rugby.
