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Fourteen colleges from across Ireland battled it out at last week’s inaugural Nokia All Ireland Student Sevens.

Heavy favourites DCU faced IT Tallaght in the day’s Cup final hosted at the Dublin City University Grounds.
IT Tallaght were valiant throughout and a shock looked on the cards when Richie O'Neill evened the scores towards the end of the first half and Alex Dunlop was denied with what looked a high tackle close to the line.

DCU were not to be denied though and David Mongan and Ian Denham both scored, adding to an earlier effort from former Ireland Sevens player Kevin Croke. The tries proved decisive with DCU holding on for17-7 win.

David Morgan was given the EA player of the tournament award by Eoin Hogan from the IRFU who helped organise the tournament.

IT Carlow, who included by ex-New Zealand Sevens player Massey Tuhakaraina and were skippered by Karl Miller, convincingly won the Plate decider 26-7 against a spirited Smurfit Business School.

The event was organised by Ireland Sevens player Max Rantz-McDonald with DCU Alumni Jamie Heaslip, Cian Healy and IRB Sevens tournament Director Beth Coalter present.

DCU will attend the European University Rugby Sevens Championship in Spain's Cordoba in July.

Leeds Metropolitan University dominate BUCS Sevens

There was further joy for students at Leeds Metropolitan University who were the surprise winners of both the men’s and women’s competitions at the UK’s BUCS Sevens Championships hosted at Chinnor RFC last weekend.

The men’s side, who played at last year’s Melrose Sevens with the great Waisale Serevi, shocked UWE Hartpury 26-12 in the Cup final. Hartbury had been taken to extra-time by UWIC in their semi-final, with the eventual champions beating Bristol 15-5 in the other last four clash.

Earlier on Bristol had beaten last year’s winners Exeter 15-5 in an exciting West Country match-up. Bath piled on further misery to the Devon side beating them 31-26 to the Plate.

Leeds Met’s women were pushed hard by UWIC in their final but had enough in store for a 22-28 win and to confirm a historic double.