Millfield School got the defence of their Preparatory Schools title underway in confident fashion on the opening day of the 76th Rosslyn Park HSBC National School Sevens.
Watched on by retired England Sevens star and tournament ambassador Chris Cracknell, 2014 champions Millfield Prep eased through Group A, scoring 138 points in three games.
They then went on to beat Cheltenham College Prep School 26-0 in the knockout stage to book their place in Tuesday’s quarter-final pools.
The match was just one of several games which will be streamed live from the showcase pitch during the week from the RPNS7 home page and captain Alfie Raynor said afterwards:
“It was a really good match in our final game, it was certainly harder than the rest of them but we came out on top in the end.
“We stayed disciplined and ran them round the edges and didn’t stop tackling all day.
“It depends how we play tomorrow – and we won’t give up – but I rate our chances quite highly. I’m looking forward to it, it would feel amazing to win it.”
Monday also saw the start of the Juniors Tournament although there was a shock in the morning with reigning champions Royal Grammar School High Wycombe failing to make it past the group stages after suffering defeats to Langley and group winners Orleans Park.
The latter beat St Benedict’s 31-16 to book their spot in Tuesday’s quarter-final, where they will be joined by one of the day’s high-scorers, Whitgift.
Fresh from running up 162 points in the group stages, the South Croydon school saw off Bryn Tawe 34-7 in the first knock-out stage before edging past Royal Grammar School Newcastle 14-12.
Charlie Beckett said: “We have had a few convincing wins in the rest of our group matches but the last match was the hardest one of all.
“It is a massive relief to be through. We butchered a few chances but then we fought through the tough times in the match and to come out of it on the other side is really nice.
“We need to put in 100 per cent effort and we will have a good chance, fingers crossed, of winning the tournament.”
Joining quarter-finalists Whitgift and Orleans Park for tomorrow’s action, which also sees the Colts competition begin, will be Abingdon, Whitchurch High, Howard of Effingham, Dulwich College, Devonport High and Trinity School, Croydon.
HSBC is a long-term investor in grassroots rugby around the world, having engaged with over 200,000 children and adults since 2009, through HSBC Rugby Festivals linked to the bank’s rugby sponsorships.
And tournament ambassador Cracknell admitted he had been left impressed with what he had seen on day one of the world’s largest schools rugby tournament.
“It’s an honour to be an ambassador for such a prestigious and long-lasting event,” he said.
“It’s amazing to see so many 13 and 14-year-olds running around and there’s some fantastic raw ability.
“They are being coached really well so it’s fantastic to see how they are all trying to express themselves on the rugby field.”