The ever-increasing anticipation for the 2024 Rosslyn Park National School 7s was on full show at Rosslyn Park FC on Tuesday 5th March in the latest Ready for Rosslyn event, with the UR7s Academy putting on the latest of a series of workshops in conjunction with the Rosslyn Park National School 7s to help teams get Ready for Rosslyn.
The tournament begins on Monday 18th March and runs through Friday 22nd March, featuring Boys and Girls competitions across U18, U16, and U14 level as well as Boys competitions at U13 and U11 level. Action at the tournament will be live streamed here on NextGenXV on both the RE1 and RE2 pitches, with live preview and review shows each day too.
It is the biggest schools tournament in the world, with over 10,000 boys and girls in action over the week. The competition is fierce and it is the key 7s experience of their school careers for all involved.
As a result, learning the game of 7s and the fun that can be had with it is vital in being able to make the most of the experience and that is exactly what UR7s and the Rosslyn Park National School 7s have put on by running these Ready for Rosslyn events.
With 7s stars, like GB and England 7s legend Tom Mitchell, running the clinics there is no shortage of 7s know how, experience, and inspiration for those involved, but the sessions themselves are about more than just know how – they are about bringing the sense of joy that is so ingrained in the game of Rugby 7s to the fore.
This was the sixth Ready for Rosslyn event, with two in Wales, two in Bristol, and one in Manchester also having taken place over the course of the last month. Four schools were included in this event at Rosslyn Park FC; The Windsor Boys School, who sent boys U18, U15, and U14 groups along, Reed’s School, whose boys U15s were involved, Thomas’s Clapham brought their U13 Boys, and Newman College from Sussex brough their Girls U16 and U14 sides.
Watching the sessions it became clear that the emphasis was on three things; understanding of space, honing basics, and fun. From catching drills using a tennis racket and ball to short adapted games where forward passes were allowed or tries could only be scored via kicks. All were designed to finesse those basic catching and passing skills or learning about learning to see space – wherever it may be.
The empahisis being one fun and developing those core schools made it an event for all, with those experience Windsor Boys’ U18s getting just as much from the day as some of the Newman College U14 girls that had barely touched a rugby ball before. A game for all.
In the end these Ready for Rosslyn events are about experience, experiencing the 7s knowledge and experience of UR7s and all that they can offer, and feeling more than ever before that sense of anticipation ahead of the Rosslyn Park National School 7s and in doing so only making the experience of that tournament all the greater for feeling better prepared than ever, and also perhaps with a sense of having a small bit of knowledge in the back pocket that others may not.
Even for those of us watching, it was an appetite-whetting experience, the 2024 Rosslyn Park National School 7s is now under a fortnight away. This year’s edition of schools rugby’s greatest tournament feels a little closer all of a sudden!
For those keen to be a part of these Ready for Rosslyn events, there are more coming throughout the building up to the Rosslyn Park National School 7s, which Surrey Sports Park, Fettes College, Broadstreet RFC, and Cardiff all hosting events. Head to the UR7s website to grab those last minute places!
Ready For Rosslyn Signup: https://ultimaterugbysevens.com/ready-for-rosslyn/
