There was a flurry of Rugby Sevens over the weekend, with the Army Men’s and Women’s teams competing in the opening round of the 2021 Super Sevens Series in Aldershot, Queen’s Avenue also hosting 20 men’s and women’s teams in an Invitation tournament, and personnel on duty for their country in the second round of the Rugby Europe Sevens Championship.
On the international front, Bdr Bethan Dainton (Royal Artillery) and Sgt Jade Mullen (AGC (SPS)) were both in the Wales squad which headed to Moscow.
The opening rounds were tough for the Welsh, losing to both Scotland, who finished third in the tournament, and Spain, who finished third overall in the Championship. Phase two of the weekend was no easier, with Wales coming up against Russia, who went on to win the tournament, the Championship, and find out their Olympic opponents, and Belgium, with both of these matches lost as well.
But Wales maintained their focus and finished with a flourish, beating both Romania and Germany to finish seventh overall.
Image © Bethan Dainton
On Saturday, the red shirt got its first outing in well over a year with the Army Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams taking on the best in the country.
The Men reached the final, beating the Wooden Spoon Maurauders, Ealing Trailfinders Academy and the Compeed Marlborough Nomad 7s en route to the knockouts. Apache and the Ramblin Jesters were both seen off in the quarter final and semi-final, but Samurai were too strong in the final, the Army losing 33-5.
Images © Alligin Photography, Scrumpix
The Women had a tougher time in the pool stages, losing to both the Ramblin Jesters and eventual winners, Samurai. The team ended in the Plate final, where they came up against the Jesters once again, with the same result.
Both the Men and Women head to Newbury this coming weekend for Round 2, with pools and squads to be announced later in the week.
Images © Alligin Photography, Scrumpix and Graeme Main
Queen’s Avenue also hosted an Invitation tournament bringing together civilian and Corps teams to celebrate Armed Forces Day.
Fifteen Men’s and five Women’s teams competed, with the Infantry overcoming Samurai Academy in the Cup final and the RLC beating AMS in the Plate final.
In the Women’s competition Farnham Ladies saw off the competition to win the Cup.
The Army Community Sevens begins this coming week in Catterick, with subsequent legs in Tidworth (July 14th) and Stafford (July 21st), with the finals back in Aldershot on July 28th.
Words © Chris Wearmouth, Header and Featured Image © Alligin Photography, Scrumpix