The Withem's Elves Rugby Sevens Team

The Game of Rugby Sevens.

Seven a side rugby, the best known abbreviated version of the game, was born in 1883 in Melrose, a little town in the south of Scot land. The local rugby club was experiencing serious financial shortages and decided to organise a rugby tournament, in an attempt to raise some much needed funds. Due to player shortages the teams were reduced to seven players per side and the playing tim e reduced to 15 minutes. The tournament was a success and it was decided to hold the tournament annually. And so the sevens game was born.

Seven a side rugby took off internationally in 1921 when there were tournaments held in Buenos Aires and Wellington, NZ. The Middlesex Sevens was founded in 1926 and this has gone on to be the biggest sevens tournament in England. The first ever international sevens tournament was held in Edinburgh, at Murrayfield, in 1973 to celebrate the centenary of the Scottish Rug by Football Union. The skill, thrill and flow of the game inspired two eager and dynamic officials from Hong Kong to try and replicate the event back home.

The Hong Kong International Sevens tournament was born three years later in 1976. At first it struggled to attract teams, but it has gone on to become the biggest and best rugby sevens event anywhere in the world, annually attracting over 45,000 spectators. The captain of the New Zealand 7s side, Eric Rush, was once quoted as saying, "Playing at a packed Government Stadium in the Hong Kong 7s must be the highlight of anyone's career." Some words considering he has played for the All Blacks at Test level, and in the Rugby World Cup!!

The International Rugby Board has since launched a World Sevens Series which includes 10 of the world's best international tournaments, in different countries, throughout the world. Rugby Sevens is seen by rugby administrators as a development tool to hone players skills and to bridge the gap between club and internati onal rugby. International rugby superstars including Jonah Lomu, Waisale Serevi, David Campese, and Joost van der Westhuizen have all served their apprenticeship with the seven a side game.

Sevens rugby has not only been popular with spectators, but has also been an excellent advertising tool for many well known blue chip companies. Heineken, Emirates Airways, BT Cellnet, Cathay Pacific and Nokia are just a few multi-national companies that have sponsored teams and tournaments on the sevens circuits. Seven a side rugby is becoming highly publicised and well sponsored event in the international sporting calendar.

Developing rugby nations such as Trinidad & Tobago, Korea and the USA have all concentrated on sevens rugby in order to develop rugby in their co untry. Developing young players and giving them experience in tournaments will go a long way in the long-term development of the sport. This is demonstrated by the outstanding win that the USA had over Fiji in the Wellington Sevens tournament this year, t he consistent good results of Korea in the World Sevens Series, and the excellent debut of the Trinidadian based West Indies 7s team at this years Hong Kong Sevens. Both the USA and Trinidad & Tobago have been holding high quality sevens tournaments for the past 15 years and it is these tournaments that will continue to help to develop players, coaches and rugby in the region.

The Game of Rugby Sevens / History of the Elves / Future of the Elves

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