Magnificent sevens get set for top tournament (From South Wales Guardian)

Magnificent sevens get set for top tournament

11:00am Thursday 14th March 2013 in Sport

YSGOL Dyffryn Aman PE teacher Phil Williams is expecting his youngsters to shine at the 2013 Rosslyn Park HSBC National Schools Sevens.

Williams’ charges will be looking to strut their stuff again at this month’s Rosslyn Park Sevens, the world’s largest schools tournament of its kind.

Since the competition began in 1939, the Amman Valley school has reached a final just once, finishing runner-up in the boy’s U16 competition to Millfield School in 2004.

But Phil Williams believes they can go one better this year as he takes U18 boys and girls as well as U16 and U13 boys’ sides across the Severn Bridge.

“The Rosslyn Park Sevens is something that we look forward to every year and we are very fortunate that we are able to take four teams this year,” said Williams.

“The goal for the last few years has always been the same, just make it past day one and into the knockout tournament and that will be the same this time around too.

“We tend to do pretty well with the girls’ side and we are hoping for more of the same as we have some very good players.

“ Hannah Jones is part of Ospreys U18s and Chloe Davies is with Scarlets U18s so they are good players who should do well, and we have some in the boys, too.

“First team captain Steffan Rhys will be one to look out for and in the juniors we have kids like Arden Thomas, Nathan Morgan and captain Jack Morgan.”

The Rosslyn Park Sevens has had a history of starting the careers of rugby legends – Gareth Edwards, Will Carling, Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back, Rob Andrewand Rory Underwood having all competed in the tournament.

HSBC is proud to sponsor the world’s largest school rugby tournament.

All HSBC’s rugby sponsorships aim to help develop and grow the sport and ensure even more youngsters get involved with rugby.

To find out more, visit rpns7.co.uk