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World class line-up for Sevens ...

Bury St Edmunds RUFC is to host a world class line up of rugby teams at the club’s annual ULR Rugby Sevens Tournament on Sunday 6 May 2012. Sixteen of the top national and international sevens rugby teams will complete at the Haberden, home of Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club next month in the first of four Super Sevens Series tournaments in the 2012 Series.

The standard of rugby is expected to be higher than ever with teams including the world famous Samurai Barracudas and premiership clubs Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers pitting themselves against the likes of Romania’s national 7s team, Apache and Kamikaze. 

Securing selection as a Super Seven Series event this year puts Bury St Edmunds ULR Tournament on the national stage of fixtures.  Super Sevens Series rules as set out by the IRB World Series, stipulate that 12 core specialist sevens teams will compete with four invited sides - guests of Bury St Edmunds - to make up the sixteen. Guest sides are local premiership club Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers, Esher and Romania 7s. Points are accumulated throughout the series with an eventual overall series winner coming from the team with the most points across all four events.

The event, now in the fourth year is expected to exceed the 2000 person spectator levels of last year as supporters travel to the town from across Great Britain. A few well-known sporting faces are anticipated too with the likes of Phil Greening, former England hooker confirmed to attend as well as a surprise sporting guest of honour to present the winning trophy.

In addition to the Series competition, the Bury St Edmunds ULR 7s tournament will now also include an open event for local sides to compete and join in the fun and the action. Eight teams will take part including Bury St Edmunds Wolves and National 1 sides Cambridge and Blackheath amongst others.

Competing for the SSS series prize pot of £7,000 are:
Northampton Saints   
Leicester Tigers
Romania 7s   
Esher
Apache   
GB Students
Burrda Ronin   
White Hart Marauders
HFH Wailers   
Templars
North Wales Exiles   
Kamikaze
Merging Wales   
Samurai Barracudas
Social Vibe Pups   
Rambling Jesters

Participants in the open competition for local teams are:

Bury St Edmunds Wolves   
Southend Beerbarians
Cambridge   
Blackheath
Samurai Storm   
Colchester
Ipswich   
Stowmarket               

Mike Robinson, Playing Chairman of Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club and organiser of the event said, “This event which started as regional sevens tournament four years ago has mushroomed into one of the premier national fixtures on the sevens circuit.  We are honoured to welcome so many of the top sevens teams and their supporters to Bury and to showcase to people in and around the town, the Haberden at its best, hosting a fun-filled family day packed with fast furious and electrifying rugby.” 

As well as the rugby, there will be a beer festival running from Friday 4th May through the Sunday 6th featuring local and national ales. Other activities include a children’s play area, food and cake stalls as well as several stands selling crafts and gifts. Gates open from Xam with the tournament kicking off at Xam. Tickets are £7 per adult, £3 for U16s and free for Under 5.

For the latest information on this event visit www.bserufc.co.uk