Sevens rugby has a history at Newby which goes back to 1992 when the Scottish International Sevens side, 'The co-optimists' took the inaugural tournament by storm beating Public School Wanderers in the final
this was followed by Blackheath, the now defunct Wakefield club, Rotherham and then Scottish champions Hawick taking the title in the 90s.
Hawick were victors in 2000 but as professionalism took hold in the 21st century an
d senior clubs concentrated on league rugby, sevens were left in the hands of specialists and over the last few years invitational professional sevens sides such as the Samurias, Marauders, Crusaders and last year Team Northumbria, from the Newcastle Falcons Academy, have taken the Pindar Trophy at Newby.
However as in the very first tournament, the Public School Wanderers reached the final this time winning it in 2005.
Over the years a one-day festival has stretched to three days with a prize fund of £2,000.
One of the more light-hearted stories I have encountered at the sevens over the years happened in the first Sevens event.
The Scottish International Sevens side, the Co-optimists, arrived early at the club on the morning of the competition with a party of about 10 officials which happened to include international ref Brian Anderson who had refereed the memorable Australia-France semi at the first World Cup in 1987.
His services were offered to a hapless Scarborough official who failed to recognise the celebrated whistler and replied that it was kind of him to offer but Mike Holder (then club coach, now Director of Rugby) would officiate if an extra ref was needed!
The full article contains 277 words and appears in Scarborough Evening News newspaper.
