National Schools Sevens


The Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens is an English rugby union sevens tournament, organised by Rosslyn Park F.C., that has evolved into the world's largest rugby tournament with some 9,500 boys and girls aged 13 – 19 competing annually from over 800 schools. There are now well over 1,100 matches on the 5 groups of pitches every year. A separate tournament for the U11 age group takes place the week before.
Originally a tournament played amongst English public schools, the tournament has evolved and expanded over the years and now accepts sides from all over the world. Countries which have participated included Canada, China, Denmark, Guernsey, Hungary, India, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Kenya, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Spain, and the Ukraine as well as England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

NS7 Open Titles

SchoolWins
Millfield School13
Ampleforth College11
Wellington College11
Neath School4
Sedbergh School3
Stonyhurst College3
Llanelly School3
Rugby School3
St. Edward's College, Liverpool3
Cheltenham College2
The John Fisher School2
Bedford School2
Cranleigh School2
Llandovery College2
Uppingham School2
Douai School1
Mount St Mary's College1

Format

The play for the tournament is centred on Wimbledon Common and adjoining land to the south, where there are 24 pitches having outgrown the original home of the tournament at Rosslyn Park's home ground at nearby Priory Lane. All the pitches are close together and there is just a short walk between them all.
Each Tournament has a similar format of Group matches on the first day with possibly a knockout round or two. The second day is for the knockout rounds, which culminate in the relevant Final. The Junior Tournament and the Preparatory Tournament start on the Monday, the Festival starts Tuesday, the Colts Wednesday, and the Girls Tournament and Open Tournament start on Thursday.

History

There has been some recent speculation about the reasons for the Schools 7s' inception. Some recent research by Richard Cable, of the BBC, shows that Rosslyn Park started holiday games for schoolboys following the Great War. These were held in January and were believed to be in commemoration of Rosslyn Park members killed in action. This was the beginning of a strong link between the club and youth rugby – something that continues to this day. In 1938 it was known that an internal tournament took place at the club where members played as old boys representing their schools. The following year, and possibly as a result of some disagreement among the members as to whose school was better at "rugger", the Schools 7s was born.
The event was first held in 1939, and has been held every year since, becoming one of the oldest continuous tournaments for schools and the oldest ongoing schoolboy rugby tournament in England. The first tournament was won by St George's School, Harpenden, which was a fee-paying independent school at that time. It was intended to be a knock-out competition for English public schools but as interest grew it was extended to include state schools and preparatory schools. The format was also changed into pool groups so that no U16 or girls side played fewer than three matches and no U18 boys side fewer than four. Almost all the founding 16 schools compete to this day and, although it remains an invitation event, no eligible school would be refused entry upon application. In 1956 the Preparatory Schools competition was started for IAPS schools and in 1973 the Juniors were held for the first time. In March 1997, a new competition was introduced for the U16s and it has been the policy during the past few years to invite schools from overseas who may be touring the UK to play in the tournament. Each year the number of schools applying increases. In 1998 the first girls competition was inaugurated, and a recent popular inclusion has been a sevens challenge match between Old Boys RFCs, the first of which was between Ampleforth and Millfield, who between them have won the senior tournaments a remarkable 21 times.

Recent tournaments

In recent years Millfield have enjoyed the most success in the 'Open' although in 2004, Ivybridge Community College pipped them in the final, just 14 years after the school took up the sport. John Fisher School has appeared in 4 Open finals between 1997 and 2009 winning twice. After Ben Gollings took his Canford side to success in the 1997 Festival, the trophy was won either by Wellington or Cheltenham until Colston's broke the trend in 2006. The 2003 final seemed certain to be a record five on the trot for Wellington with their impressive international line-up but Cheltenham turned round a 0-12 half time score to win. The next year Cheltenham won it again after beating Taunton and then yet another win followed for Wellington College in 2005. Colstons won in 2006 and King's College, Taunton in 2007 after going so close in previous years.
Colston's School, Bristol made history in 2007 by becoming the first school ever to win both the Open and the Girls tournaments. Benenden School, in only their first season of rugby pushed them all the way in the final before eventually losing 19 - 17. Colston's girls could not repeat it in 2008, falling to East Norfolk 6th Form College in a high quality game and Sedbergh won the Open Tournament. The 2008 Tournament was broadcast live on the internet and was watched in over 30 countries.
In the 2009 tournament. Millfield continued their success, winning both the 'Open' and the Colts tournament. In the Festival Epsom College were defeated by Wellington College. Neath Port Talbot ended Colstons Girl's continued their dominance to take the title. In 2010 Millfield won the Open, Colts & Prep Schools Tournaments; Tonbridge School beat Wellington in the Festival and Hartpury cruised to the Girls title.
In 2011 HSBC became the Tournament sponsor. By now the event had four separate food outlet centres, thirty two exhibitors and a large screen for results and advertising. Film highlights from the previous day were uploaded the next morning and mixed with the advertising content on a large LED screen. At the same time as these changes Millfield's recent dominance faded and they failed to make the next day's play off rounds in any tournament. South Gloucestershire and Stroud College won the Open, Hartpury College won the Girls and Tonbridge won the Colts.
In 2015 Wellington College beat John Fisher in the final 12-7. In 2016 Cranleigh School, one of the smaller schools in the competition, beat Harrow School to take the trophy, repeating their success in 2017 by defeating Brighton College 28-7 in the final.
All the results are updated on the official website throughout each day.

Video of matches

The rugby sevens matches played on main pitch RE1 are filmed. Video of these matches are live streamed and can be watched on YouTube: .

Former players

The tournament is now recognised as a breeding ground for top British international rugby players, many of whom first started out playing in the competition.
Other notable former players include rugby coaches Les Cusworth and Peter Rossborough, Liam Botham, horse trainer Ian Balding and Queen Elizabeth's grandson Peter Phillips.