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It is amazing to think that it is was in June 2019 that Old Penarthians last hosted their Seven-a Side tournament but much has happened in the intervening period, not least the Covid pandemic that has affected all of us in some way. 

It is therefore appropriate that before introducing this year’s event that there is a moment of reflection to thank all those people in the NHS who were so influential in us coming through the pandemic and to remember those close to us who may no longer be with us.

The Old Penarthians are lucky to be a family club and to be a part of the community that can offer support through the playing of sport which can be both beneficial to health as well as giving outlets for social interaction which was much missed during the early days.

So, it is with a sense of history and sporting celebration that after a two-year interlude Old Penarthians host their Annual Seven-a-side Tournament at Cwrt-y-vil Playing Fields in Penarth on Saturday 11^th June 2022.  It will be the 71^st consecutive running of the event which started in 1950 and was initially contested at Penarth County School until 1963 with one season at Cogan in 1951.

As the case in 2019, the event has now moved to June to accommodate the extended WRU league rugby season and to ensure that the best teams can display their talents in Penarth amidst a programme of Sevens tournaments that are held in Wales, the West Country and the English South Coast.

Again this year the event has attracted ten very good invitational specialist Sevens teams and for the second time at the tournament they will compete in two Pools.  Each pool will comprise five teams and they will each play one another to determine the winners and runners-up in each Pool.  The winners of each Pool will compete in the final for the Roy Churchill Cup and the runners-up in each Pool will compete in the Golden Jubilee Plate final.

The draw for the main event sees the teams drawn in the following Pools:

The changing face of Sevens rugby and the demise of the Old Boys’ school network, on which the tournament was originally based in 1950, does however mean that the  Old Penarthians are now the only ‘ever-present’ team in the competition.  

The last winners of the Roy Churchill Cup, the Voyagers will be keen to retain their trophy in a final they won by 31 points to 7 against Warriors.  The Golden Jubilee Plate was won by Ponty Butchers in a fairly one-sided match by 33-0 against the Bowmen.

The Brian Joseph Player of the Tournament was presented to Arthur Lennon of the Warriors who scored seven tries and nine conversions during the afternoon to narrowly win the award from Chris Morgan of Voyagers.

The Club is also pleased that a Ladies tournament will again be contested to highlight the tremendous expansion of rugby into women’s’ sport.  The competing ladies’ teams represent Llandaff North, Pontyclun Falcons, Wales Deaf and Dursley.

The four will each play one another in a league with the winners and the team placed second in the table then competing in the final for the Helen Norman Memorial Trophy

The inaugural Ladies competition was won by Ponty Butchers who defeated Pontyclun Falcons in the final, with the Player of the Tournament trophy awarded to Ffion Lewis who during the afternoon had scored six tries and fourteen conversions in a very impressive display

Entry to Cwrt-y-vil will be by programme at a cost of £2.00 and car parking will be available on the field at a cost of £5.00, which will include two programmes. Those attending are asked to make use of this parking facility to minimise the disruption to the local neighbours

In association with the tournament the Club will also be providing food throughout the day to accompany refreshments that will be available from the club premises as well as from a marquee staffed by club volunteers.  No glasses or glass bottles will be allowed on the Playing Fields and it is hoped that spectators will make use of the many bins that will be provided to dispose of their waste.

In order to manage the number of matches this year the first game of the tournament will kick-off at 12.30pm.  The Ladies final is due to start at 4.50pm followed by the Men’s Plate Final and the Final of Cup Competition due to kick off at 5.40pm.