The weekend started with the 7th Primary School competition on Friday. Sixteen local school teams had their own Primary Rugby World Cup! With most primary schools in the area present they each represented a country who will be playing in the Rugby World Cup in September. Almost 200 enthusiastic players showed some great skills, hopefully many will now join the growing East Grinstead Rugby Junior section. It was Halsford Park A who showed the teamwork to take the Sunshine Sevens Rugby World Cup.

Saturday saw the Ladies Tournament for the Steve Cairns Trophy. A very strong field which consisted of two International sides, SOS Rugby from Norway and the Swiss Barbarians joined the London based sides Predators, Andreas Angels and Tornadoes, with local teams from Hove, Lewes and Tonbridge. Overall standard was exceptional all afternoon with the Predators showing their Premiership status in the final beating the Swiss Barbarians 24-7. Andreas Angels beat Tonbridge 26 – 5 in the Plate final. Our Swiss Ladies and Predators – certainly showed East Grinstead how to party on Saturday night…

Saturday also had the Club / Development tournament, where a really strong Heathfield side beat Sussex Barbarians 50- 0 in the final.

Senior Elite Men’s Tournament for Lady Astor of Hever trophy, on Sunday again attracted the big names of English Sevens back to Saint Hill. Samurai Bulldogs the current holders, could only make it to the Plate this year, beating G Force in the semi-finals 38-12 before beating Wooden Spoon Marauders 32 – 5 to take the Plate title.

In the Main competition the semi-final line-up was really strong with Apace Raiders beating Esher in an incredibly close game 26-19 and Apace Braves beating a really good Irish Exiles side 21-12.

Apache Raiders took the title over the Apache Braves winning 36-0. This was a great result for the Raiders under the captaincy of Adam Hurst, who has been coming to the Sunshine Sevens for many years and not managed to win it before, despite having been in the final three times previously. Hurst commented “This is a fantastic tournament and I am so pleased to say that we have finally won it, we love this tournament as it not only provides great Sevens, but the opportunity to raise money for the local East Grinstead Charities. Step by Step School for Autism, Opportunity Playgroup and Sussex Wooden Spoon”

Apache Raiders also provided the “Player of the Tournament” Samir Kabush who received the Penny Farthing Shield.

Garry Gordon the Tournament Organiser said even though we had a real mixture of weather over the weekend, we have managed to introduce Rugby Sevens at all ages and levels through the Sunshine Sevens and hopefully surpass last years £6,500 raised for our charities. It all help raise the profile as we look towards next years Rugby World Cup, we want to make East Grinstead the focal point for this great event.