On Tuesday eight teams from across Bedfordshire competed at Bedford Athletic RFC to represent their county, with Robert Bloomfield Middle School and Harrold Priory Middle School finishing first and second respectively.
Then on Wednesday Sudbury RFC hosted 14 teams in the Suffolk regional tournament. After a full afternoon of competitive action the final came down to two well regarded rugby schools, RGS Colchester and Ipswich's St Joseph's College, with the team from Colchester coming out on top.
The four teams' achievements have earned them a place at the Elite Insurance Sevens Series Finals Day on Thursday, April 25th. They will head to Franklin's Gardens to take on Northampton School for Boys, Winchester House (both Northamptonshire), The Perse School and Swavesey Village College (both Cambridgeshire) in a battle for the right to be crowned the best Under-13 Sevens team in the east of England.
Saints Elite Player Development Group manager Ross Stewart, who has been at all four regional tournaments, says that he has been impressed by the standard of play and is looking forward to Finals Day.
"The Elite Insurance Sevens Series has given us a chance to look at teams and players from both public and state schools alike," he said. "For some players it was their first experience of Sevens, and a lot of the schools will not have competed against each other, certainly not in an organised tournament like this.
"I've been impressed by the standards of the teams and by the enthusiasm shown by the players and coaches - not least in some poor weather conditions! It has also been good to engage with clubs like Shelford and Sudbury and to take the Saints into the Eastern Counties, an area which is becoming more and more important in our Academy pathway."
Elite Insurance Sevens Series organiser Rowland Winter is confident that the tournament has received plenty of support and will grow and grow in subsequent years.
"All of the schools involved have embraced the Sevens Series and I'm sure that it will be bigger and better next year," he said. "I would particularly thank the three clubs - Bedford Athletic, Shelford and Sudbury - who have hosted the regional tournaments and made us feel very welcome.
"The eight teams who will come to Franklin's Gardens on April 25th have certainly earned their place in Finals Day, and it promises to be a good afternoon of rugby."
CLICK HERE to see more information about the Elite Insurance Sevens Series.
