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Robin Heymann

There is something wonderfully reassuring about the Sunshine Sevens.

A tournament that is heading into its 53rd year traditionally signals that the UK Sevens season has well and truly begun.

Today marks the start of a festival of rugby at Sussex’s East Grinstead RFC with primary schools (Friday), ladies (Saturday), and the main men’s event (Sunday) all primed for battle on a gloriously sunny English weekend.

“Teams like to kick off the season with the Sunshine Sevens and it allows them to stretch their legs before the May weekend tournaments,” says organiser Garry Gordon

“We also try and accommodate a good balance of sides - drawing the big guys and those who want to see where they are in sevens. The standard produced just gets better each year.” 

There is a real winner’s buzz around the club currently with the 1st XV champions of South-East 3 and the ‘Development Squad’ also in line for promotion.

“This is a great opportunity to celebrate a fantastic season for the club. Everyone really gets behind the sevens and appreciate the quality of it produces,” adds Gordon.

For the pièce de résistance on Sunday, 24 men’s teams will now battle it out for a very handy £1000. 

Due on the paddock are the likes of Apache, Esher, Southern Spears, and Wooden Spoon, all likely contenders for the Lady Astor of Hever Cup. Marauders Academy, Kamikaze and a decent Brookes Real Estate side have the ability to upset the bigger guns. The only slight blemish being the withdrawal of Jedi, the defending champions, with injuries and player unavailability disrupting their early season plans.

One team hoping for their first ever win at East Grinstead is Apache, who despite numerous visits to the event over the last decade are yet to walk away with the major honours.

Apache out to break duck

“It is probably my tenth tournament at East Grinstead and it has been a frustrating event for us. We once went with eight players and got to the final before being outclassed by the Crusaders, says Player/Coach Adam Hurst.

“Since then we have made the semi-finals three of four times, the quarters a few times. It is a an early season event where we probably owe ourselves a victory there and with the squad we have for Sunday I think that is attainable.”

Turning out for Apache will be the ultra-experienced Richard Biggs who has pulled on a Samurai, Scorpions, and Marauders shirt in years gone by. Tom Burns adds the grunt going forward and was involved with the side in Dubai in December where they were narrowly beaten by the Wailers in the Cup quarter-finals of the International Invitational.

“It is a good opportunity before the National Leagues finish their 15s season to get a couple of wins under the belt with a fair number of decent players not quite on the circuit just yet. It gives an opportunity to blood some young guys and have a look at some people I haven’t seen before,” adds Hurst.

The day before Apache will defend their title at Windsor Sevens with the two tournaments giving platform for Hurst’s troops to prove their worth for the bigger tournaments later this summer.

“From the guys involved this weekend, there are two or three who would have been in my first VII last year and others I haven’t seen before and there are others who definitely want to be involved in the bigger tournaments. I will try to remain loyal and show some faith in guys that shine.”

It’s important to not solely focus on the Sunday’s festivities though when looking at the Sunshine model, with the Friday and Saturday events important to the structure it has built for itself.

Pillars of Sunshine

The Ladies event on Saturday could be a cracker with an international flavor thanks to Norway returning and Zurich Ladies Rugby making their first appearance.

Samurai Ladies will be formidable opposition this year, along with Chelmsford, Pink Baa Baas and Daughters of Serevi also hoping to take the title from the Pirates.

“We try and progress the tournament each year and add something each year to make it bigger and better,” says the always enthusiastic Garry Gordon.

“The Primary schools tournament is fantastic. The local community let the kids get a taster for the ‘speedy’ game - and then move on to our thriving youth section. We have 12 Primary schools who will have a brilliant day.”

Sunshine has been on an upwards curve for some time now and other tournaments could do no worse than to look the way Gordon and East Grinstead has bought in sponsors and local businesses to embrace the event. Last year bought in a whopping £10,000 for charity too that paid for a brand new mini-bus for disadvantaged children.

“We are supporting Step by Step - School for Autism, and Opportunity Playgroup - we also work with Wooden Spoon.
“Our mains sponsors, United House and IWS, have allowed us to put £1000 up for grabs to the winner on Sunday, with Penny Farthing Jewellers again donating a watch for the ‘Player of the Tournament.’

With a big party planned as always on the Saturday night with teams camping out, Garry Gordon predicts Saint Hill to once again be ‘rocking’ this weekend. So for a tournament that seemingly ticks all the boxes, how big can it realistically get? 

"We have the infrastructure and sponsor support to move the tournament to the next level. I would love to take the discussions to the next stage!”