Old Penarthians host Seven-a-Side Tournament

This tournament is one of the most constant items in the local rugby calendar and it is hoped that large crowds will turn up at Cwrt-y-vil Playing Fields, St Marks Road to watch this highly enjoyable and competitive event.

The club maintains strongly that it is the oldest surviving sevens tournament in Wales and it is a fact of which the club is rightly proud.

The tournament started in 1950 as the ‘brain child’ of the then honorary secretary, Bill Whittaker, and it has traditionally been competed for on the third Saturday of May every year since. There have been a few exceptions forced on the event by the timing of the WRU Cup Final and the extension of the league season but this year tradition returns.

The tournament was initially played at the Penarth County School and it remained the home of the event until 1963, with one year’s sabbatical to Cogan in 1951.

In May 1964 the event was the first function to be held at the newly completed clubhouse in St Marks Road, which at the time was devoid of furniture or fittings and members satisfied the thirst of the spectators by pulling pints from casks set up on trestle tables.

The traditional tournament format sees the first round winners’ progress into the next round of the Main Trophy Competition whilst the losers continue their efforts in the Plate Competition. The remaining knock-out rounds decide the winners of both competitions.

Unfortunately the event last season saw an unprecedented number of late withdrawals and for the first time the event was based on four leagues with the winners of each division entering the main competition and the runners-up competing for the Plate.

It is hoped that the organisers this year will be blessed with a full complement of teams and the tournament will revert to the original format.

The inaugural winners were Old Penarthians and the most successful side in the tournament has been Caerphilly GSOB, with nine victories from 13 finals.

Last year saw a first victory in the event for the Voyageurs who fought off the challenge from four time winners Glan Taf Goats. The final score was 26 points to 19.

Old Penarthians had progressed to the semi-final before defeat at the hands of the eventual winners. In the other semi-final, which was probably the match of the tournament, the Goats had just managed to beat the previous year’s winners Welsh Charitables.

In the Golden Jubilee Plate Final Llandovery OB had beaten Cardiff Baby Blues in a match that ebbed and flowed by 35 points to 28, proving that Old School Boys are still more than a match for young professionals.

There is also a Player of the Tournament Trophy, initiated in 1974, and awarded to the player who has made the biggest impact on the day.

The first winner was Neil Collins of St Josephs. The only players to have won the award twice are David Bishop of Old Illtydians and Matthew Maclean of Glan Taf. Last year’s recipient was the Voyageurs captain Jonathan Phillips.

The 16 invitation teams that compete have traditionally been based on the old school network in the South Wales area, rather than on specific rugby clubs. Nevertheless, changing times have reduced the availability of the Old School entrants and the competition would not exist without new sides.

It is therefore good to see Old Cantonians return to the fold after a couple of years on the side-lines and an army side, Breakthrough also return.

A special thought also goes out to the Cardiff & District OB team who will be competing for the first time without their manager Mike Lewis who tragically died this season.

This year the invited teams have been drawn as follows:

Glan Taf Goats v Royal Artillery Gunners

Old Cantonians v Clwb Rygbi Cymru Caerdydd OB

Welsh Charitables v Cardiff & District OB

St Josephs v Llandovery College OB

Old Penarthians v Breakthrough

Hen Fois v Fro Morgannwg v Shangri-La Squirrels

Voyagers v St Peters

Stanwell School OB v Glamorgan Wanderers OB

As usual the Sevens tournament kicks off at 2pm with the final of the main competition due to start at 6.30pm. Entrance to the field will be by programme which can be purchased on the day, priced at £2.

Ample car parking is also available at the ground for a cost of £4 for which two match day programmes will be provided.