By David Parsons
The rugby season in Wales wouldn’t be the same without the final curtain coming down with the staging of the Old Penarthians Sevens on Saturday, 10 June.
This year’s 72nd edition will take place at their Cwrt-y-vil home in Penarth with 10 teams lined up to take part in the men’s competition, and a further five in the women’s tournament.
“The sevens day has always been a financial lifeline for the club and remains a very special day in the club’s rugby calendar. We have regulars who come for the rugby and the social gathering and we are proud to be the oldest tournament in Wales,” said Old Pens chair, Stephen Clarke.
“Many great players have played in the tournament since it first began in 1950 and only COVID has stopped us from staging the event every season. We’re hoping for another bumper crowd and praying the weather stays as it has been in the last few weeks.”
The draw has been made and final event information sent to teams – we’re ready to go!#OldPens7s @PenarthRFC @Butcher7s @voyagers_the @RygbiGlantaf @godfathersrugby @Panthers7s1 @barry_rfc @OldIlltsRFC @WalesDeafRugby @LNRFCwomen @PontyclunFalcon @cardiffmetwrfc @CardiffMetRFC pic.twitter.com/CrdqeGyFPn
— Old Penarthians 7s (@oldpensSevens) June 2, 2023
The action kicks-off at 12.30pm and the Welsh invitation side Ponty Butchers, who have entered two teams in the men’s tournament and one in the ladies, and expected to battle it out with the Voyagers and the Glantaf Goats for the top title. The Butchers are reigning champions having held off the Goats in a thrilling final last year, 24-17, and also triumphed in 2017 and 2018. The Voyagers won in 2019, the first year in which the women’s teams took part.
Llandaff North got the better of Pontyclun Falcons last year to take the women’s title, while
Ponty Butchers were the inaugural winners in 2019.
MEN’S TOURNAMENT
Pool 1
1 Ponty Butchers
2 Panthers
3 Voyagers
4 Godfathers
5 Barry RFC
Pool 2
6 Glantaf Goats
7 Ponty Butchers 2
8 Cardiff Met Archers
9 Illtydian Saints
10 Old Penarthians
WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT
1 Pontyclun Falcons
2 Llandaff North Ladies
3 Wales Deaf
4 Old Penarthians Ladies
5 Cardiff Met Ladies