Ulster Academy Players Count Down to the Carrick Sevens



Players from the Ulster Academy today helped begin the official countdown to the Carrick Sevens Rugby Tournament. With just under three weeks to the start of the tournament, all three competitions are attracting top level teams from across the British Isles.

These include the top Zurich Premiership side NEC Harlequins who are sending over an Academy squad to compete in the Manvik Elite Sevens on Sunday the 1st of May. They will be under the watchful eye of former Ulster Coach Tony Russ who is currently in charge of the Academy. Competing against them will be the newly-crowned Scottish Premiership champions Glasgow Hawks as well as one of the strongest Borders clubs Biggar.

Ulster representation will take the form of Ballymena and Dungannon who will have their Ulster Academy players available prior to them heading off to the Under 21‘s World Cup in June. With a first prize of £2,000 up for grabs, the competition in this inaugural event promises to be hard and fast

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Ulster Academy Players Count Down to the Carrick Sevens

Players from the Ulster Academy today helped begin the official countdown to the Carrick Sevens Rugby Tournament. With just under three weeks to the start of the tournament, all three competitions are attracting top level teams from across the British Isles. These include the top Zurich Premiership side NEC Harlequins who are sending over an Academy squad to compete in the Manvik Elite Sevens on Sunday the 1st of May. They will be under the watchful eye of former Ulster Coach Tony Russ who is currently in charge of the Academy. Competing against them will be the newly-crowned Scottish Premiership champions Glasgow Hawks as well as one of the strongest Borders clubs Biggar. Ulster representation will take the form of Ballymena and Dungannon who will have their Ulster Academy players available prior to them heading off to the Under 21‘s World Cup in June. With a first prize of £2,000 up for grabs, the competition in this inaugural event promises to be hard and fast.

The weekend’s festivities begin with the Kukri Under 20’s at 6pm on Friday the 29th of April, with the cream of young Ulster talent on display, with Dungannon, Ballymena, Ballynahinch, Ards, Carrick, Academy and the Ulster Under 20’s Champions Malone all competing for the first prize of Kukri Sportswear for their team for next season.

The highlight for many will be the on the Saturday when the traditional Guinness Sevens will commence at 1pm. Half the entries will be coming from Scotland and England, including Edinburgh club Forrester who have been making the journey across for over a quarter of a century. One of the leading competitors should be Red Eye who comprise of a selection of top Scottish club players including a number of the current Scotland sevens squad. Newcomers Jesters RFC from Leicester University will add an English element to the twenty four teams vying for the first prize of £1000.

The excitement on the pitch should be matched by the pitch side entertainment throughout the weekend, including the Guinness Tent featuring live music as well as plenty of activities for the kids such as face painting, street circus and bouncy castles. The highlight of this will take place at 2pm on the Sunday when the Wild Geese parachute display team will be delivering the match ball.

With forty teams taking part and with support from the Northern Ireland Events Company and Carrickfergus Borough Council, this years Carrick Sevens promises to be the most successful tournament to date. For all the latest news on the Carrick Sevens Tournament, click on: www.carricksevens.co.uk

ENDS

For further information/interviews, contact Michael Simms 07849 718064.

This article was originally posted on 18-Apr-2005, 10:07 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 19-Apr-2005, 19:13.