A RUGBY tournament which started with just 12 teams in 1988 attracted 90 sides and thousands of spectators over the bank holiday weekend to Kinsale, Co Cork.
The Kinsale Sevens is the most successful event of its type in Europe, hosting teams from as far afield as New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji.
Tomas O’Brien of the Kinsale Sevens says the event was first established as a fundraiser for the local rugby club, but has since grown in popularity. This year teams travelled from Denmark for the first time in addition to regular supporters of the event from Ireland, England and Latvia.
“Three boys sat around in the local bar, the Bulman, and they decided how would we make money for the club and have something good at the end for the rugby players. So they came up with the concept of the sevens. This year we have Latvians, Dutch, English, Irish and Scottish. You have a good mixture in there.”
Director of Rugby at Ulster David Humphreys says the sevens event is largely about having fun.
He stressed that countries such as New Zealand and Australia have used their sevens teams as a means of developing young players who have gone on to represent their national squads.
At the weekend, five pitches accommodated over 150 matches.
Dutch teams Susie’s Exiles won the seniors men title while Susie’s Saloon won the juniors men title. The Wooden Spoon Ladies (UK) won both ladies competitions.
The event is worth an estimated €5 million to the town annually. Such is the popularity of the weekend that some hotels were booked a year in advance of the tournament. The international dimension of Kinsale Sevens started in 1993 when chef Keith Floyd organised the “Vikings” with an Irish VII selection against an Anglo-Welsh side.