North Dorset RFC

The North Dorset 7s rugby festival returned to North Dorset RFC on the 24 July, and despite a threatening
weather forecast and the persistence of the Co-Vid 19 pandemic achieved record attendance of 2000.

Unfortunately due to numerous last minute cancellations from competing teams having to self-isolate, the U18
tournament planned for the Friday evening had to be cancelled at the last minute. However, a contingent of
400 early arriving campers ahead of Saturday’s tournament had much to entertain them with the festival’s
music, bars and food stalls.

The thunderstorms forecast for Saturday fortunately passed overnight, so the tournament enjoyed soft ground
but relatively clear skies throughout. With the British & Irish Lions having announced a 5pm KO time for the
first test match against South Africa, the ND7s tournament kicked off earlier than usual at 9am.
64 teams descended upon North Dorset to compete on seven lusciously green pitches in Men’s Elite, Men’s
Social, Men’s Veterans 10s and Women’s competitions.
The Men’s Social competition included eight groups of four teams all playing each other once before splitting
into knock out stages based on ranking. In a hotly contested FJ Chalke Social Cup final Empire 7s, an
invitational side based in Bath, came out on top against Young Lives vs Cancer’s Godfathers Academy with a
score of 28-12.

South Gloucestershire’s Snuff Pigs 7s won the VX3 Social Plate for the teams finishing second in their groups
with a 19-7 win against Bournemouth’s Hurn Airport Windsocks.
Egg Chasers RFC, the nationally renowned rugby podcasters who had put together an invitational team of their
listeners (whilst occasionally competing themselves) triumphed in the Motcombe Garage Social Bowl with a
29-7 win over Marie Curie’s Atomic 7s.
Former Plymouth University teammates VK Wanderers narrowly beat Spring Cucks 7s by one unconverted try
to win the coveted Just Pressed Cider Social Barrel for the teams who finish bottom during the group stages.
Four teams competed for the Marshway Contracts Vets Cup for players over 35 in a 10-a-side ‘round-robin’
tournament. The matches were played with ten-minute halves instead of the usual seven minutes for rugby 7s
matches. Once again, the visiting Egg Chasers RFC took home the trophy by going unbeaten in a group
featuring veteran sides from Old Bristolians, North Dorset and Wincanton RFC.

The Women’s tournament offered some fierce competition with 16 sides competing in four different groups,
with the top two teams heading into the Recharge Fitness Cup and the bottom two teams competing for the
South West Tyres Plate. Bath Rugby Ladies, Barnes Bears, specialist invitational 7s side Cats and London Irish
all topped their groups with an unbeaten record and went into the Recharge Fitness Cup. Bath Rugby Ladies,
only forming an official partnership with Bath Rugby as recently as May this year, dispatched London Irish in
the semi-final with an impressive 40-7 win but were edged out in the Recharge Fitness Cup final by former
winners of Dubai International 7s Cats 7s by 31 points to 10.
The Women’s South West Tyres Plate was won by Trojans Ladies from Eastleigh with one of North Dorset’s
own teams NDS Barbarians making it as far as the semi-final.
The Elite Men’s competition was ringfenced to a special group of 12 teams playing in three groups. North
Dorset’s own ND Allstars did their home fans proud by topping their group with an unbeaten record. This was
all the more impressive given that they volunteered to move up to the Elite competition after a last-minute
drop-out less than 24 hours before. The home side were then unfortunately knocked out in a narrow 12-17
defeat by Immortals 7s in the quarter finals. Immortals having only qualified for a Cup quarter final spot as a
‘highest scoring’ runner up.
The FUEL10K Elite Men’s Plate competition was vied for in the final by SA Wild Dogs and Taunton’s own
Postmen 7s, with The Postmen the eventual winners.
Shredded Ducks, an invitational 7s side from Bristol, have won the Dave Worthington Cup sponsored by
Gritchie Brewing Company at ND7s consecutively in the last three tournaments. Shredded Ducks were rarely
tested throughout the day only conceding 31 points in 6 games. They successfully defended their title by
beating Cats 7s convincingly by 40 points to 7 in the Final. Dave Worthington’s daughters Olivia and Mary
along with Gloucester and Italy backrow-forward Jake Polledri presented the trophy to Shredded Ducks. Jake
ironically being a former Shredded Duck himself on his pathway to professional and international rugby union.
ND7s was officiated throughout the day by 30 volunteer referees (sponsored by Robert Frith Optometrists),
including talent from national panel and the World 7s circuit.
The evening’s entertainment kicked off with British & Irish Lions victory being televised on a huge outdoor
screen, with a Sky Sports camera crew even attending to catch the crowd at ND7s for Sky TV coverage.

ND7s 2022 is confirmed for the weekend of Saturday 23 rd July 2022. Tickets and information will be launched
shortly at www.nd7s.co.uk

Special thanks to…
Gritchie Brewing Co - Nestled on the Dorset/Wiltshire border, Gritchie Brewing Company prides themselves
on sourcing their own ingredients from Guy Ritchie’s own Ashcombe Estate to deliver thirsty patrons with
some of the finest beer brewed in the UK. Our friends at Gritchie are hugely knowledgeable, passionate about
British pub culture and supportive of our local community.
FUEL10K - Certified B Corp FUEL10K are passionate about ensuring no one is too busy for breakfast, and so
their better for you breakfast range is easily enjoyed on the go. They are so passionate about their oat bars,
breakfast drinks and cookies, they gave them away as samples for breakfast at ND7s!
FJ Chalke - FJ Chalke & Vale Motors are a family owned and run automotive dealer group collectively
representing Abarth, Fiat, Isuzu, Jeep, Kia, Nissan and Suzuki. With over 90 years’ experience, FJ Chalke are
also one of North Dorset RFC’s oldest supporters, who demonstrated the latest KIA models on the day.
Recharge Fitness - ‘Gym Retailer of the Year’ Recharge Fitness hosted a strength and fitness contests for
anyone brave enough to try a deadlift, a kettlebell hold, a hang challenge or a bodyweight bench press, with
special prizes to be won!
VX3 (official kit supplier to ND7s) - ND7’s official kit supplier VX3 is a young, fresh and innovative sportswear
brand, based in Torbay, Devon, who specialise in high-performance technical sportswear and supply
professional rugby teams in the English Premiership and the Pro14.
Robert Frith Optometrists (official sponsor of ND7s referees) - With practices in Gillingham, Shaftesbury,
Wincanton amongst their 13 branches, Robert Frith optometrists have been a mainstay in the ocular health,
and a long-time supporter of our referees at ND7s.

All of the competing teams, our local volunteers and staff for making this year’s event a success.

Charitable Partner – Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY)
CRY is a charity very close to the heart of North Dorset RFC after the sudden passing of their club captain Max
Biles at the age of 29 in 2009. CRY is a UK charity working to reduce young sudden cardiac death (YSCD). Every
week in the UK, at least 12 young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions. www.c-r-y.org.uk