Stars turn out for Keynsham rugby sevens festival
By The Bristol Post | Friday, June 22, 2012, 05:00
KEYNSHAM hosted the West Country Sevens last weekend, with over 90 teams from across the country taking part in the event. The tournament kicked off on Friday with a mixed touch rugby event with the Chiefs – an amalgamated team from Keynsham and Coombe Down – taking the spoils.
On Saturday, pre-tournament favourites, the British Army, lived up to their top billing by adding the West County Sevens to their Bournemouth and Rugby Rocks titles.
Their 22-19 victory came against a UK Rugby All Stars side that included members of the full England Sevens squad as well as Kenyan's all-time record point scorer Humphrey Kayanga, who is studying at Bristol University. Local sides Storm 7, the West Country Cavaliers and CLIC Sergeant Godfathers also progressed to the latter stages of the competition.
France Universitaire were the surprise package in the ladies event, seeing off last year's winners Wooden Spoon in the final. The Veterans Tens, a new event to the programme, was won by a Bristol side, which included England World Cup winners Mark Regan and Josh Lewsey, along with Paul Hull, Ralph Knibbs, David Corkery, Fraser Walters and Dave Hilton.
The Trust PA tournament attracted 28 sides on Sunday, with London-based Marauders Academy beating last season's champions Meibion Plasawr from Wales, in the final of the main competition.
Old Redcliffians retained their plate title after battling past Danny's Flowers (Barton Hill) in the final. Clifton lifted the Under-15s cup after their impressive victory over Wolverhampton, while Bath Youth, coached by former England skipper Phil de Glanville, saw off Brighton Blues in the Under-14s event.
Bristol Ladies centre Sally Tuson has been called into the England Women's Sevens squad ahead of 2013 Rugby World Cup qualifying tournament in Moscow. Tuson, who missed out on the European Sevens Series through illness, made her full XV's international debut at the European Cup in May and impressed, scoring four tries in a three-match tournament.
England Women's Sevens coach Barry Maddock said: "Sally has shown great promise over the last 12 months."
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