The Elite Insurance Sevens Series is entering its third year, and will give Under-13 school and club teams from across the East of England the opportunity to test their Rugby Sevens skills in a competitive environment.
This year sees a second expansion of the Series, with tournaments to be held for schools and clubs in Buckinghamshire, as well as Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Oxfordshire.
Teams first compete in a regional tournament within their particular county, with the winners and runners-up then heading to the home of the current Aviva Premiership title holders at Franklin’s Gardens to battle it out for the right to be called Elite Insurance Sevens Series champions.
Tournaments are held for both schools teams and club sides, with specialist Rugby Sevens coaching available from the Saints community team.
The Saints is unique among Aviva Premiership clubs in organising a tournament of this scale, and community officer Will Parkin says that it would not be possible without the constructive and continuing support of Elite Insurance.
“We now have an established relationship with Elite Insurance, and Barbara Bock and her team have become excellent partners in promoting Rugby Sevens to schools and clubs,” he said. “Developing rugby is one of our core principles at the Saints, and the Elite Insurance Sevens Series allows us to support those schools who may not have enough children to put out a full 15-a-side team, or who might not have the coaching experience among the teaching staff.
“The Elite Insurance Sevens Series has given many schools their first opportunity to participate in a competitive tournament, and we’re looking forward to seeing it continue to grow this season.”
Elite Insurance group executive officer Barbara Bock says she is delighted that the Sevens Series is continuing to expand.
“We set up the Sevens Series with the Saints to try and promote Rugby Sevens, which is one of the newest Olympic sports,” she commented. “With Rugby Sevens growing in profile we have seen a knock-on effect in our own Series, and more and more schools and clubs wanting to take part.
“While the Olympics and IRB Sevens Series represent the pinnacle of the sport, we know that it is at the grass roots where players are nurtured and develop their love of rugby. This is why we concentrated on supporting a tournament at Under-13 level and partnered with Northampton Saints, which has a well established and highly regarded community department.
“It is fantastic that the Elite Insurance Sevens Series is expanding into a sixth county, and we are looking forward to some exciting action in the regional tournaments and at finals day!”
The Elite Insurance Schools Sevens regional tournaments will take place in mid-April, with precise dates and locations to be announced in early 2015. Finals Day will be held at Franklin’s Gardens in late April.
The Elite Insurance Club Sevens will then take place in late April, once again with regional tournaments followed by Finals Day at Franklin’s Gardens.
Coaching sessions have been increasingly popular over the past few years, so early booking is recommended.
For more information about the Elite Insurance Sevens Series, to book coaching sessions or register your school or club in the tournament, email Will Parkin at [email protected]
One of the Saints’ Elite Sponsors, Elite Insurance is dedicated to supporting youth rugby in the Eastern Counties and East Midlands. The Elite Insurance Sevens Series gives Under-13 players the opportunity to play a new Olympic sport, with separate tournaments for clubs and schools.
Elite Insurance has evolved rapidly to become one of Europe's leading insurers. A commitment to continual expansion and acquisition enables Elite to offer clients unrivalled expertise in many niche areas of insurance, delivering products quickly, conveniently and competitively.
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The Elite Insurance Club Sevens is the latest in the wide range of age group tournaments organised by Northampton Saints. Over the course of a season thousands of young rugby players in age groups ranging from Under-7s to Under-16s descend on Franklin’s Gardens on first team match days, with trophies and medals handed out on the main pitch during the half-time interval of that day’s Saints game.
