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This weekend Portsmouth Grammar School hosts the South Coast sevens, one of the toughest Sevens Tournaments on the circuit. How tough? The winners of last Year’s Rosslyn Park National Festival AND Open are here, plus some of the most recognisable names in Schoolboy Rugby.The Tournament is on Sunday 10th Febuary starting at 12.00. Visit the Microsite for pitch maps and the playing schedule, and in the Group Profiles section you can vote for who you think will win!
Group 1
Portsmouth Grammar, the hosts, play a very competitive fixture list and beat Millfield earlier in the season. They will play Sedbergh who have not had a vintage year. Their season has been badly affected by the weather but when they did manage to fixture they played well in defeat against Daily Mail Cup quarter finalists Kings Macclesfield. They are always well coached and a force at Sevens. Sherborne have a great side this year and have been steadily improving. They will have spent a lot of energy in the Daily Mail quarter final on Wednesday which might affect their performance here. Shiplake are a good sevens team with electric pace. They played well in their own Sevens Tournament last weekend and will be looking to build on that here.
Prediction: Sherborne School
Group 2
Brighton College have had a brilliant season with only one loss to Dulwich. They will be well set up for sevens and have a recent win over fellow group members Whitgift. Coleg sir Gar won the Open last year and the Welsh side may be favourites again this year. They are a powerful side full of running and beat Llandovery College and Millfield earlier in the season. Whitgift have had a mixed season but have had some great moments, putting 50 points on RGS High Wycombe and beating Daily Mail quarter Finalists Warwick School. Wimbledon College have some excellent Sevens players this year and will be hoping to build some momentum as the Nationals draws closer.
Prediction: Coleg sir Gar
Group 3
Bryanston, last year’s Festival runners up, are in a tough group. The aptly named George Trick has serious pace and Tom Wolstencroft has been in fine form this year. They beat Sherborne last term and will fancy their chances against them if they play them in the knockouts here. Ivybridge are a strong AASE side and there will be future Chiefs players on show. Pangbourne will be very competitive and have only three losses on their record this year. They hold a 40-10 win over fellow group members Lord Wandsworth College. Lord Wandsworth will find it a tough group but hold a good win earlier in the year against Reigate Grammar and could surprise here.
Prediction: Bryanston
Group 4
Bedford School have had a tough year but play one of the hardest fixture lists in the country. They could be a dark horse on the Sevens circuit this year. Canford are a good side and narrow losses to the excellent Marlborough College and Sherborne School shows they can compete with the top sides. St Joseph’s lost narrowly to Daily Mail Cup quarter-finalists Northampton School for Boys and recently put 50 points on London Oratory. They will be a threat in this group. The group winners will most likely be Wellington College. The 11 times Rosslyn Park winners always have a brilliant side this will be our first look at the class of 2013.
Prediction: Wellington College
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