Rugby School Celebrates with Sevens

The school was founded in 1567 in the reign of Elizabeth I. This celebration is in the reign of Elizabeth II, as was the 400th anniversary.

Sevens rugby for players under 18 is a part of the party.

There are 12 schools taking part – three from England, two from South Africa, and one each from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The matches take place at the Close at the school, with its wall plaque which reads: THIS STONE COMMEMORATES THE EXPLOIT OF WILLIAM Webb ELLIS WHO, WITH A FINE DISREGARD FOR THE RULES OF FOOTBALL AS PLAYED IN HIS TIME, FIRST TOOK THE BALL IN HIS ARMS AND RAN WITH IT, THUS ORIGINATING THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF THE RUGBY GAME. AD 1823

The story may well be exaggerated but the World Cup is called the Webb Ellis Cup, England still play in the white colour of Rugby School, caps for players still date back to Rugby School and, above all, the school gave the great game its name, spread throughout the world.

The ruling rugby body in England is simply the Rugby Football union – RFU and its president, Jason Leonard, a prop who played in 119 Tests, will be the ambassador for the Sevens and will present to awards.

The matches will be played on 23 and 24 March 2017. The teams will march on to drums at 10.00 on the Friday and matches will start at 11.00 and end at 16.30.

On Saturday, matches will again start at 11.00 and end with the final at 13.40.

The 12 schools participating

Clifton College, England

Fettes College, Scotland

Hilton College, South Africa

Llandovery College, Wales

Marlborough College, England

Michaelhouse, South Africa

Nelson College, New Zealand

Oita Maizuru, Japan

Royal Belfast Academical Institution, Northern Ireland

Rugby School, England

Shawnigan Lake School, Canada

Shore School, Australia

The teams are divided into two pools of six teams each.

Pool A: Fettes, Hilton, Marlborough, Oita Maizuru, Rugby, Shore.

Pool B: Clifton, Llandovery, Michaelhouse, Nelson, Royal Belfast, Shawnigan Lake

The teams play with in their pools. The teams coming first and second in each pool go on to the Cup, third and fourth go into the Plate and fifth and sixth go into the Bowl.