St Benedict’s London took the first tournament of the Rosslyn Park HSBC National Schools Sevens with a storming 17-0 win over Glantaf School today. 

After overcoming Whitgift in the semi-finals, St Benedict’s finished off a gruelling two days of rugby – which saw them play seven games en route to the final – with a commanding performance. After a narrow first-half, which St Benedict’s edged 7-0, they pulled away in the next seven minute half with two more tries to take the Junior Tournament with a further ten points. 

St Benedict’s director of sport Nick Guise was understandably delighted and said: “The boys have grafted for the last two days and they have worked extremely hard. They have showed class all over the pitch and have the ability to score tries from anywhere. They have a bit of size and pace and it’s now the first time in the school’s history that we have taken the title.

“I think they just thoroughly deserve it and they are a great bunch of lads.”

HSBC ambassador Ben Gollings presented the winning side with the coveted trophy and was full of praise for the high level of rugby on show from the Under-13s. Gollings said: “I flew in this morning from the Hong Kong Sevens which is the pinnacle of the game and it is great to see the grass roots level progressing so well. I’ve seen some brilliant rugby on show and it looks like the input HSBC have brought to the sport is really starting to pay dividends. 

“Having spent years in this format of the game, I really want to see it grow as much as possible and the opportunities are huge with the game now in the Olympics. 

“They’re still learning this format, but the standard is really high. Both sides showed some good pace, great ball skills and a good eye for space along with some big hand-offs. Huge congratulations have to go to St Benedict’s and I hope they will go on and achieve more in the sport from here.”

Photography by capturetheevent.com