The 2017 Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s tournament kicked off in style today with the Junior Waterfall Tournament.
Eight schools went through the entire day without defeat in what was a long and intense day of rugby, which saw almost all four season’s worth of weather occur in just one day.
There was some outstanding rugby played throughout the day, with 132 teams competing. Some of the rugby would have been fit for the U18s later in the week, one particular passage that caught our eye was between Yarm and Gordano, which saw just about every player on the pitch gain possession of the ball at least twice before a wonderful try was scored. Sevens at its most pure and at its very best.
Though the Junior Tournament has no winners this year, in accordance with the England Rugby Age-Grade Rugby reforms, the winners of the initial groups were placed in 11 ‘A Group’ second phase groups, second place went into ‘B Group’ second phase groups, third into ‘C Group’, and fourth into ‘D Group’.
So there was sense therefore of who the schools at the upper end were. There for the winners of those 11 ‘A Groups’ can consider themselves among the very best around, Whitgift, Dubai College, Rodillian Academy, Royal Hospital School, Judd, QEH, Torquay Boys Grammar, Solihull, KES Bath, Devonport High School, and RGS Lancaster.
Of those eleven schools, eight came away with perfect records from the day, and were exceptional throughout.
Whitgift topped Group C and then went off to head QEGS Wakefield and Halliford in A1, over in A2, Dubai College were also unbeaten, having gone through Group D in style.
Royal Hospital School also ran through the day unbeaten topping Group K before beating Cardiff High and Stockport Grammar to secure A4, Judd, meanwhile were unbeaten in A5 after seeing off the competition in Group M, with QEH in A6 another unbeaten side. They saw off New Hall and Dartford Grammar, having secured top spot in Group P.
Over in Group A8, Solihull added Hampton and Bedford Modern to list of schools they had beaten, which included all of Group V in Phase 1.
KES Bath were top of the pile in A9, having also topped Group Z, while Devonport High, the Group BB Winners were also unbeaten in A10.
There was plenty of other excitement throughout the day, not just in the top groups, but there was also some fascinating action away from the pitches. In the HSBC hub, former England 7s star Chris Cracknell spoke engagingly about his experiences in being part of the coaching team that took Fiji to Olympic Gold back in the summer, as we saw an emotional and insightful video about their journey to that gold medal.
You can see that video below – while the videos of Chris’ Q&A with the audience are available on our Facebook Page after we recorded them on Facebook Live.
Tomorrow sees the Colts tournament begin, you can see the draw for that competition here: Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s Colts Draw.
All in all, a wonderful start to this year’s Rosslyn Park 7s!
Do make sure to stay in touch throughout the week – on Twitter @FifteenRugbyXV Facebook (www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby), instagram @fifteenrugbyXV and on email, writers@fifteenrugby.com
HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s Junior Waterfall Tournament:
Phase 2 Groups – Final Standings (Top to Bottm)
A Groups (Winners of Phase 1 Groups)
Whitgift, Royal Hospital School, QEH, Solihull, KES Bath, Devonport, Judd, Dubai College
| A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 |
| Whitgift | Dubai College | Rodillian | Royal Hospital School |
| QEGS Wakefield | Llanishen HS | Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr | Cardiff HS |
| Halliford | Trinity | Fulham Boys | Stockport Grammar School |
| A5 | A6 | A7 | A8 |
| Judd | QEH | Torquay Boys Grammar | Solihull |
| Ivybridge Community Coll | New Hall | John Fisher | Hampton |
| Gunnersbury | Dartford Grammar School | Dulwich College (ALL EVEN) | Bedford Modern |
| A9 | A10 | A11 |
| KES Bath | Devonport High School | RGS Lancaster |
| Cowbridge Comprehensive | Sevenoaks | St Ambrose College |
| Warwick | RGS Colchester | Treorchy Comprehensive |
B Groups (2nd in Phase 1 Groups)
| B1 | B2 | B3 | B4 |
| Waterloo Schools | Skinners’ | Howard of Effingham | St Peter’s Gloucester |
| Monmouth | RGS Worcester | Brentwood | Akeley Wood School |
| Brynteg Comprehensive | Mount St Mary’s College | Portsmouth Grammar School | St Dunstan’s College |
| B5 | B6 | B7 | B8 |
| Woodbridge | Manchester Grammar | Reed’s | St Olave’s GS |
| Merchiston Castle | Chislehurst & Sidcup | Dubai College | King John |
| Uffculme | Eggar’s | Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Rhondda | Sir Joseph Williamson’s |
| B9 | B10 | B11 |
| Pocklington | RGS High Wycombe | London Oratory |
| Barnard Castle | St John Baptist | Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School |
| QES Barnet | Wallington County Grammar | Queen Ethelburga’s |
C Groups (3rd in Phase 1 Groups)
| C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 |
| Crypt | Gymraeg Bro Edern | Stanwell | Churcher’s College |
| Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf | Loughborough | Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg | Harris Academy |
| Whitchurch High School | Ysgol Bae Baglan | George Abbot | The Oratory |
| C5 | C6 | C7 | C8 |
| St Benedict’s | St John’s College, Southsea | Reigate Grammar School | St Joseph’s College |
| Cedars | Llangatwg | Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni | City of London Freemen’s |
| Queen’s College, Taunton | Emanuel | St Bartholomew’s | Barry Comprehensive |
| C9 | C10 | C11 |
| RGS Guildford | St Anselm’s College | St George’s, Weybridge |
| Y Pant Comprehensive | King’s Worcester | Cwmtawe Comprehensive |
| Birkdale | Wilmington Grammar School | Wisbech Grammar School |
D Groups (4th in Phase 1 Groups)
| D1 | D2 | D3 | D4 |
| Prior Park College | Newbridge | Hill House | Shiplake College |
| Leicester Grammar School | Berkhamsted | UCS | Kew House |
| Perins | Fitzalan HS | Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe | Birchgrove Comprehensive |
| D5 | D6 | D7 | D8 |
| Wellan Park Academy | Yarm | Lincroft | Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr |
| Cabot Learning Federation | Oakham | RGS Newcastle | KES Birmingham |
| Bishop Gore | Gordano | King’s Macclesfield | Stafford Grammar School |
| D9 | D10 | D11 |
| Gordon’s | Haileybury | Coopers Company & Coborn |
| Langley | Rutlish | Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg |
| Gymraeg Llangynwyd | Dover College | Christ College, Brecon |
Phase 1 Groups – Final Standings (Top to Bottom)
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Halliford | QEGS Wakefield | Whitgift | Dubai English Speaking |
| Waterloo Schools | Monmouth | Brynteg Comp | Skinners’ |
| Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf | Whitchurch HS | Crypt | Gymraeg Bro Edern |
| Perins | Prior Park College | Leicester Grammar School | Berkhamsted |
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
| Trinity | Llanishen HS | Fulham Boys School | Rodillian |
| RGS Worcester | Mount St Mary’s College | Brentwood | Portsmouth GS |
| Loughborough | Ysgol Bae Baglan | Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg | Stanwell |
| Newbridge | Fitzalan HS | UCS | Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe |
| Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L |
| Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr | Stockport GS | Royal Hospital School | Cardiff HS |
| Howard of Effingham | Akeley Wood | St Peter’s Gloucester | St Dunstan’s College |
| George Abbot | Harris City Academy | Churcher’s College | The Oratory |
| Hill House | Kew House | Birchgrove Comprehensive | Shiplake College |
| Group M | Group N | Group O | Group P |
| Judd | Gunnersbury | Ivybridge Community | QEH |
| Uffculme | Merchiston Castle | Woodbridge | Manchester Grammar |
| Queen’s College, Taunton | Cedars | St Benedict’s | Emanuel |
| Cabot Learning Federation | Bishop Gore | Welland Park | Gordano |
| Group Q | Group R | Group S | Group T |
| Dartford Grammar School | Yarm | John Fisher | Torquay BGS |
| Chislehurst & Sidcup | Eggar’s School | Ysgol Gyfun Cymer Rhondda | Reed’s |
| Llangatwg | St John’s College | St Bartholomew’s | Reigate Grammar School |
| Oakham | Yarm | King’s Macclesfield | RGS Newcastle |
| Group U | Group V | Group W | Group X |
| Dulwich College | Solihull | Bedford Modern School | Hampton |
| Dubai College | Sir Joseph Williamson’s | King John | St Olave’s GS |
| Cwm Rhymni | City of London Freemen’s | Barry Comprehensive | St Joseph’s College |
| Lincroft | Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr | KES Birmingham | Stafford Grammar School |
| Group Y | Group Z | Group AA | Group BB |
| Warwick | KES Bath | Cowbridge Comprehensive | Devonport |
| Pocklington | Barnard Castle | QES Barnet | RGS High Wycombe |
| RGS Guildford | Birkdale | Y Pant | St Anselm’s College |
| Gymraeg Llangynwyd | Langley | Gordon’s | Dover College |
| Group CC | Group DD | Group EE | Group FF |
| RGS Colchester | Sevenoaks | St Ambrose College | Treorchy Comprehensive |
| Wallington CGS | St John Baptsist | Bishop Vesey’s GS | Queen Ethelburga’s |
| Wilmington GS | King’s Worcester | Wisbech GS | St George’s College |
| Rutlish | Haileybury | Cooper’s Coborn | Christ College, Brecon |
| Group GG |
| RGS Lancaster |
| London Oratory |
| Cwmtawe Comprehensive |
| Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg |