HAWKS WILL BE FACING THE LIKES OF NEC HARLEQUINS AFTER ACCEPTING AN INVITATION TO THE ELITE EVENT AT THE CARRICKFERGUS SEVENS




Ryan Launches Carrick Sevens on Way to World Sevens!

The biggest and most exciting sevens tournaments in Ulster rugby history was officially launched today by Ryan Constable, IRFU Sevens Coach, days before he leaves for the World Sevens Tournament in Hong Kong. The Carrick Sevens launch, which took place at Carrickfergus Marina, included an announcement that the talented NEC Harlequins will be travelling from London to take part in the elite tournament on Sunday 1 May.

Speaking at the launch, Ryan stated:
"It is fantastic to see the Carrick Sevens Tournament evolving into such a major event on the domestic sevens calendar and attracting such quality teams to participate in the event. The exciting format for the tournament promises non-stop sevens action over three days, incorporating a strong social element which has always been core to the abbreviated version of the game. For the uninitiated, we can expect to see some thrilling rugby action, fast-paced, high energy, with an attacking emphasis, all surrounded by a carnival-type atmosphere!"

Three Days of Quality Rugby
The inaugural three-day festival takes place from Friday 29 April - Sunday 1 May 2005. An Under-20s tournament will kick off proceedings on Friday night with teams including Ards, Ballymena, Portadown and Dungannon competing for the Kukri Sportswear Cup. On Saturday, the traditional Guinness Sevens competition will take place featuring Boroughmuir, Hawick Linden, Forrestors, Red Eye and Cambaslang from Scotland, Staines and Forrestors Exiles from England, as well as a mixture of Senior and Junior Ulster sides including last year's winners, Queens.

The festival comes to a stylish finale on Sunday with an elite competition featuring the cream of Irish and British club sides competing for the Manvik Elite Sevens Cup. The sides featuring in the elite tournament will be drawn from the All-Ireland League, the Scottish Premier League and the Academies of several Zurich Premiership clubs, with only 8 invited teams competing. At the launch, organisers were delighted to confirm that NEC Harlequins from London will be competing under the watchful eye of their Academy Manager, Tony Russ, the former Ulster coach.

The total prize fund for the weekend is £5,000 as well as new team wear for the winners of the Under-20s tournament.




Background
Following the demise of the Jordanstown Sevens, a group of Carrick members decided to capitalise on this and on Easter Saturday 1973, held the very first Carrick Sevens. For a number of years, predominantly junior clubs took part but it was Instonians who really put the Sevens on the map, winning it over a number of years. With this, more senior clubs entered, but in recent years, Scottish teams have come to the fore including West of Scotland, Boroughmuir and Edinburgh University.

The increased success of the Sevens can be credited to longstanding committee members (David Adams, Ian Beggs, Alan Holmes, Richard Price and Wallace Luney) who, over thirty years, created the premier sevens tournament in Ulster. It was decided last year that Carrick would build on the success of the existing event. This is being led by the club's President, Paul Graham, and the Weekend Sevens Chairman, Jim Simms, who, with their hardworking committee, have created a three-day festival of rugby.

Added Attractions
In addition to the rugby, a number of other activities have been added to supplement the event. These include the Guinness Tent which will host live music from The Guinness Experience, face-painting, street circus and bouncy castles. As well as a parachute display by the Wild Geese at 2pm on Sunday 1 May to officially commence the Manvik Elite Sevens.

Sponsors
Lucrative sponsorship has been secured from the Northern Ireland Events Company, Carrickfergus Borough Council, Guinness, Manvik, Kukri Sportswear and BMI.

Support
The Ulster Branch of the IRFU has been very supportive of what CRFU are trying to achieve with the new festival of rugby. According to David Boyd, Domestic Rugby Manager:
" I congratulate Carrickfergus Rugby Club on the launch of their extended Carrick Sevens tournament. The initiative shown in developing an already successful and respectful tournament into a three-day festival of seven-a-side rugby is to be applauded. I have no doubt that it will further develop into a "not to be missed" occasion which will directly benefit the Carrickfergus club, the community and Ulster rugby. The IRFU (Ulster Branch) wish them every success with this exciting venture."

This article was originally posted on 18-Mar-2005, 10:55 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 18-Mar-2005, 11:09.