It has been a busy few weeks for the Army 7s teams. Most recently, the Army Men’s Development produced some cracking rugby as they finished as runners-up in the South Island Sevens last weekend.
The Red Shirts opened up with an impressive 31-0 victory against Petelo All Stars, then overcoming Jamaica 38-5 in their second pool game.
A 31-12 triumph against Wooden Spoon Marauders made it three from three before they went down 31-7 to Nadroga Stallions.
This meant Army Development finished second in the five-team group, Apache pulling out before the competition, but the runners-up were unable to gain revenge when they faced Stallions in the final.
The side are next in action at the London International Sevens at Wasps FC, Twyford Avenue, on Saturday. They will be joined by the Women’s team at the event.
Prior to this, the Men and Women’s teams had both been in action on Armed Forces Day at Broadstreet RFC for the Sports Tours 7s competition. A challenging day for the women’s team, without a victory in any of their pool matches they did not advance to the knock out stages. The Army Men finished as runners-up, overturning a 19-7 half-time deficit to beat the Royal Navy 21-19 in the group stage, but they enjoyed more success in winning the British Elite 7s at Newport Salop.
They overcame the Royal Air Force, Vaquita Hammerheads and Akuma Rugby Agents in Pool B, before eventually edging out Apache in a hard-fought final.
During a fine campaign, the Red Shirts had previously won the overall Super Series competition, winning two of the three events.
Words © Richard Ashton
Images – Alligin Photography © Andrew Fosker and Litiana Sogotubu
