Middlesex Sevens

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The Middlesex Sevens is a rugby union sevens tournament held annually at Twickenham stadium in London, England. It was first held in 1926, and started by Dr J.A. Russell-Cargill, a London based Scot.[1] The event was held at the end of the rugby union season in May every year for 75 years and moved to August in 2001 due to lack of available stadium dates and players in May.

This Rugby Union tournament is a charitable event, now officially called the Middlesex Charity Sevens, with the current beneficiaries being The RFU Charitable Trust and the PRA Benevolent Fund.

The Middlesex Sevens has seen many notable great players take the field including Waisale Serevi, Eric Rush, Lawrence Dallaglio, Henry Paul, Robbie Paul, Clive Woodward, Will Carling, JPR Williams, Prince Alexander Obolensky, Va'aiga Tuigamala, Martin Offiah, Ben Gollings, Simon Amor, David Strettle, Josh Lewsey and Andy Ripley amongst others.

Traditionally the Middlesex Sevens has been an invitation tournament with entertainment derived from overseas and qualifying sides challenging the rugby union top teams. In 2005 the tournament became a twelve team competition with Guinness Premiership teams only participating. This attracted criticism with Rugby League sides no longer invited and the further lack of diversity in terms of domestic and overseas teams.

The 2008 tournament saw the return of invitation sides with The Ospreys, Newport Gwent Dragons and the British Army. The Current Champions are London Irish.

Contents

[edit] List of Winners

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Bath, Richard (ed.) The Scotland Rugby Miscellany (Vision Sports Publishing Ltd, 2007 ISBN 1905326246)
  1. ^ Bath, Scotland Rugby Miscellany, p82
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