Rugby World Cup winner and HSBC ambassador, Jason Robinson, was on hand to kick start another Rosslyn Park HSBC National Schools Sevens competition, passing on his wealth of knowledge in the process.
Former England wing Robinson made the journey to the capital to see the world’s largest annual tournament spark into action, with some 7,000 boys and girls aged between 13 and 18 from approximately 650 schools set to compete during the week.
And despite the wet weather, Robinson was more than happy to get involved too, taking both Sussex’s Cumnor House School and Terrington Hall Preparatory School from York in master classes.
The Rosslyn Park HSBC National Schools Sevens has a fantastic history of setting legends of the rugby world on their way, with Lawrence Dallagio, Will Carling and Rory Underwood, to name just a few, having strutted their stuff in previous competitions.
And Robinson believes this tradition is set to carry on for some time after checking out the talent of the class of 2013 for himself.
“It is great to be here at another Rosslyn Park HSBC National Schools Sevens tournament and to be here supporting grassroots rugby,” Robinson said.
“Just working with the kids is great and while the weather might not be great to begin with, over 7,000 kids will be involved during the week which is fantastic.
“I love it and the kids love it and it is what they have been talking about since last year’s competition finished.
“This is a great competition. It is very competitive but at the same time it is all about improving as well.
“While everyone wants to come here and win, there are actually teams here that don’t play a lot of rugby playing for the first time and I think that is important.”
Monday saw the Junior and Preparatory schools’ tournaments get underway and defending champions of the former, St Benedict’s School Ealing, could still be the team to beat as they booked their place in Tuesday’s quarter-finals.
St Benedict’s topped group A before beating New Hall School 34-5 and RGS High Wycombe 17-5 in their two knockout stage games to move into the last eight.
And 12-year-old captain Josh Chippendale said: “We got off to a rusty start but as the day went on we got up and played much better.
“It was very tough to get past RGS High Wycombe in our last game. They were a good side and it was very cold but we just concentrated on our kicking game and thankfully went through.
“There is pressure being the defending champions but I think we can do it again. We have a good team and everyone wants to win it again.”
The defending Preparatory champions live to fight another day also after Bishop’s Stortford College got the better of local rivals Felsted Preparatory School in a narrow 7-0 victory.
Bishop’s Stortford will now face Aysgarth School in their quarter-final and captain Connor Mack said: “We really wanted to beat them and we are so glad that we did, even if it was quite nervy.
“They beat us in the XV game and they are our nearest school, so it was a bit of a local derby and as defending champions the pressure was on us too.”