Bournemouth Sevens Festival is a party like no other. To create, simply take the non-stop, fast-paced game of sevens rugby and mix with a 20,000-person festival.
Include live bands and a non-stop party atmosphere, celebrity sportsmen and fancy dress, before finally throwing a sprinkle of netballers on top to taste. Here is a sample of what the weekend had to offer...
This year we had the privilege of following a particular team, the Gilbert Pups, who were playing in the International Invitation Cup.
The team is made up of players from all over the world – mainly Premiership Academy and Championship players. The team were well organised, efficient, and were clearly there to win.
Day One
The Pups kicked off playing a well drilled Army side, who went on to win the competition. The results was a defeat by one try, which left the Pups slightly de-motivated and they soon realised that they had to pick up their game if they were going to win.
The next match saw them up against the Church Sevens – a group of Kiwis, Aussies and Saffas but it was the Pups who ran the show, outplaying the opposition, showing great speed and power to win the game comfortably.
The Pups were now back on form and went on to win the rest of their games on day one.
Red Bull Photofiles
Day Two
The second day of the Bournemouth Sevens Festival marked the arrival of the knock-out stage of the competition. What’s more, an improvement in the weather brought the fancy dress costumes out in full glory. This being a rugby festival, well-built half naked men in bikinis became a staple sight for the day.
The festival seemed to have really kicked off – all those in hiding from the previous day’s cold were out in force, with the main bar pumping out beer whilst the big screen had become very popular with fans watching England play Japan in a World Cup warm-up.
Back to business and the Pups, feeling re-motivated from their winning streak in the afternoon of Day One managed to win their next two games and made it through to the semi final.
However, that was as good as it got for the Pups, as they went on to lose their semi-final match, unable to find a higher gear. Of course they will be back again next year looking to defeat the Army.
The whole affair, rugby, netball and music combined is an event for the whole of Bournemouth to enjoy and one that with time can only become bigger and better, if that’s possible.
Bournemouth Sevens – Final Result
1st – Army
2nd – Templers
3rd – The Gilbert Pups
For more on the Bournemouth Sevens, check out our Red Bull Reporter assignment from the event
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