Formed 2004 ... Herts 7s U14 Runners-up 2005 ... North Herts U14 team, Herts Youth Games 2005 runners-up (coached by Letchworth)... Herts Superteams U14 Runners-up 2005 ... Herts SuperTeams "Fairplay" winners 2006 ... Rochford 10s U17 Champions 2006 ... East Midlands 10s U17 Runners-up 2007 ... East Midlands 10s U17 "Fairplay" winners 2007 ... National 10s U17 5th place and "Fairplay" winners 2007 ... Herts 7s U17 Plate runners-up 2007 ... National 7s U17 Plate winners 2007 ... RFU "President's XV" Award winners 2007 ... Herts Superteams winners 2007 ... Midlands 10s U18 Runners-up 2008 ... National 10s U18 4th place 2008 ... North Herts U11 team, Herts Youth Games 2008 runners-up (coached by Letchworth girls) ... London and SE 7s U18 Plate runners-up 2008 ... Herts 7s U18s runners-up 2008 ... National 7s U18s quarter-finalists 2008 ... Gloucester City 10s U18 Bowl runner-up (6th) 2009 ... Worthing 10s U18 Plate runner-up 2009 ... National 7s U18 Plate winners 2009... Worthing 10s U15 Plate winners 2010... Worthing 10s U18 Shield winners 2010... Herts 7s U15 and U18 Bowl runners-up 2010... National 7s U18 Plate runners-up 2010...

Monday, June 16, 2008

England complete a European double

Last weekend England completed an impressive double, following their 15s win a few weeks ago with a comfortable triumph in the Women's European Sevens, conceeding only one try (in their quarter final with France) over the whole weekend. Only the semi-final with Spain was even slightly close (10-0), while the final was a 51-0 cake-walk over Netherlands.

Elsewhere it was less clear-cut. Surprise followed surprise with "recognised" rugby nations coming off badly. France barely scraped into next year's World Cup, following a group defeat to Russia, when they beat Wales in a winner-takes-all Plate semi-final. For Wales defeat first to Italy and then Spain was too much for a nation that has played superbly at 15s recently, and who were winners of this event only two years ago. England and France will be joined by Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Russia in Dubai - not a half-dozen that anyone would have predicted.

For FIRA - who run the tournament - the rise of the minor nations was great news. Unlike the at times rather predictable 15s events, (England aside) sevens internationals in Europe are now incredibly competitive and very unpreditcable - something that FIRA and the IRB hope will help with their bid to get Sevens included in the Olympics.

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