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Newquay enjoyed a another magnificent sporting weekend with the biggest seven-a-side rugby event in the South West being enjoyed by more than a thousand players from all over Britain.

Players plus their supporters didn’t let the variable weather ruin their fun at Newquay Sports Centre over the weekend and the very successful festival of rugby rivalled any in Europe when internationally-renowned professional seven-a-side rugby teams competed for over £10,000 worth of prize money.

The Newquay International Rugby 7’s 2009 tournament was only the second ever seven-a-side rugby tournament to be held in Newquay but once again it lived up to its promise providing a weekend full of festival rugby.

“The appealing combination of Newquay, Sea, Sand, Surf and Sizzling Sevens Rugby here in Cornwall once again made this event a great success,” said Tournament Director Andy Hawken.

“The 104 seven-a-side teams competed in a festival of rugby in four separate tournaments and so far without exception, all the teams want to come back next year to do it all again.”

Some of the best sevens rugby teams in Europe played in the Invitational Competition on Saturday. The British Army team, stocked full of fast and brilliant Fijians, won another great final by 4 tries to 1 for the second year running against the Kukri Marauders.

In the last four it was the Army who edged out Samurai, winners at the Manchester Sevens the week before, 12-0. Marauders outscored Kooga Wailers three tries to one in the other Semi-Final, with all four sides breezing through their Quarter-Finals. Elite ID took home the Plate, beating Lovell Sports in the Final.

But just as important was the Women’s Open Competition, with the incredibly impressive Wooden Spoon Ladies team demonstrating great rugby skills once again by also winning for a second successive year at Newquay 7s. This time they overcame the interestingly named Moody Cows.

Separate competitions for the Men’s Open and Women’s Open were also played on the Saturday. The Men’s Open Final was also a great match between last year’s winners Ronins Impact who came up short against the Akuma Smurfs.

Sunday once again had variable weather with showers and wind causing a few testing moments on the five pitches in use. But it didn’t ruin a great fun day of rugby, as visiting rugby clubs from all over the UK competed for the new Newquay Presidents Cup - with the Newquay Bowl and Newquay Plate also presented at the end of the day.

Serious games of great sevens rugby were enjoyed by all, but the outstanding final was between two clubs who had travelled a good distance to compete. The Cup Final was eventually won by a very impressive Harpenden Praetorians from Hertfordshire, when they beat a very good Huddersfield team 42-12 in a one-sided final. The Praetorians included three Arabian Gulf Internationals including the likes of Josh Sherrin, Taif Delamine and Jonny MacDonald.

In the Newquay Bowl competition Upton 49er’s beat Lufbro Lightning and The Newquay Plate was won by The Templars when they beat the OPM’s.

“Newquay Surf 7s has to thank so many people for their support. Our Sponsors, helpers, players, referees, Newquay Hornets RFC, Newquay Sports Centre, Newquay Cricket Club, Newquay Bowls Club, Newquay Tretherras School. All of whom have contributed to make this event the great success it has been,” added Hawken.