The first major 7s tournament of the season takes place on Sunday as Seaford College host the Seaford 7s.

Sixteen teams from the south of England will head to Seaford and they are split into four groups of four teams each. The winners of each group will head to the Cup semi finals, second place to the Plate, third to the Bowl, and fourth to the Shield.

Dulwich College are the reigning champions, they beat Epsom College 12-0 in the final, a side that went on to several tournament victories over the season. Dulwich are in Group 1 alongside the hosts, Seaford College, who reached the semi finals of the Plate last year, as well as Downside and a former champion in the form of Bedford School.

Group 2 is headlined by Berkhamsted, who were not involved last year but arrive this year with another strong fifteen-a-side season behind them. They are joined in Group 2 by Trinity, who had some very strong results last term and reached the Bowl final last year, Emanuel, and a Bishop Wordsworth’s side that reached last year’s semi finals, although with a Schools Plate semi final ahead of them, they may have half an eye elsewhere.

Epsom College will be in Group 3 as they aim for a return to the final, they are joined in the Group by Portsmouth Grammar School, who reached the Plate final last year, only to miss out by two points to Hurstpierpoint College. Alongside those two are RGS Worcester and Sevenoaks, who will both be hoping to make an impact.

Group 4 meanwhile sees Felsted join the competition, the Essex side will certainly add plenty of quality to an already loaded tournament. Alongside them are Hurstpierpoint College, who actually picked up two trophies here last year, winning the Plate with their 1^st VII and the Shield with their 2^nd VII, where the beat Gordon’s in the final, who are also in this group. Completing the group are New Hall, who reached last year’s semi finals, only to find themselves up against a sizzling Dulwich College side.

Overall it is a strong competition with which to kick off the 7s season, with sixteen good teams and plenty of excitement from those look on as the road to Rosslyn Park officially begins.

Seaford 7s Groups