Police Rugby Sevens

The Garda Síochána from Ireland are the inaugural 2009 British Police Rugby Sevens Champions having beaten South Wales Police 36-05 in the final held at Stourbridge RFC on Wednesday 16 September 09.

The win is the first for the tournament with eighteen forces competing. However, the outcome was never really in doubt as the Guards roared into an early lead and one from which South Wales Police, like other sides before them were never able to get their hands on the ball long enough and were unable to recover.

With the Guards finishing strongly they also picked up the ‘Colin Hillman Trophy’ for the Player of the Tournament. The award is presented in memory of our late friend, British Police committee colleague and former Wales 7’s coach who lost his fight against cancer.

With all teams having played five punishing games in their respective pools the Garda were drawn against Devon & Cornwall in the semi-final whom they brushed past with ease 24-07 to reach the final along with South Wales Police who defeated Staffordshire 31-12 in the other semi-final.

In the Plate competition, the Metropolitan Police beat Kent and then completely over-ran West Midlands, who had earlier defeated West Yorkshire, in a one-sided final 50-17 with a superb performance to notch the win.