The North Wales Exiles came within a whisker of causing a major upset when they took the final of the famous Heineken Kinsale Sevens into extra time.
With the scores tied at 19-19 at the end of normal play, only a sudden death try could separate them and three time winners, Susies Exiles, who had chosen to strengthen their massive squad with a number of New Zealand players.
The talented North Wales based team, playing under the name of Samurai Exiles, had set themselves a realistic target of making the quarter finals in Ireland having never played in such a high profile competition.
But they could easily have won the 10,000 Euro first prize having twice taken the lead before Susies pulled themselves level to take the nail biting finale into extra time.
In their semi-final, the Exiles had dispatched a star studded Gilbert Pups team 24-15, despite the Pups boasting England sevens star Mark Odejobi and Welsh indoor 60m champion Wyn Roberts among their squad.
An Ireland team, playing under the guise of the Shamrock Warriors, also succumbed to the young Exiles who ran in four tries during their 24-12 group stage victory. A stunning 59-5 demolition of University of Dublin helped them win the group to set up a clash with Soho Seven (Munster Academy) who they beat 10-0 to set up the much anticipated semi final clash with the Pups.
Exiles manager Marcus Copeland said although he was stunned by some of the individual performances, he was not surprised his squad had almost won Europe's biggest cash prize.
"We took some great individual talents and, had it not been for injuries to our three forwards so early in the tournament and a few dubious refereeing decisions, we probably could have killed off the final once we got our noses in front. Danny Bibby put Ed Tellwright away a minute from time and he was called back for a forward pass - the referee was the only person in the ground who saw that!
"Our players were tiny in comparison to all the other boys out here but their commitment in the contact areas, superior handling skills, angles of running and awareness of where the gaps would open up more then made up for this.
"Most of the teams travelled here with huge squads, massive budgets, professional coaches and physios. We rocked up with a squad of 11 players, no coach, no physio, very little equipment and stayed in two B&Bs miles away from the ground. But we had the stand-out kit of the weekend and, by all accounts, some of the best and most committed young players in the tournament."
Copeland singled out UWIC student Danny Bibby for particular praise.
"Danny is an amazing talent and came here with the unenviable task of trying to secure a place in the starting seven with England students' Tom Mitchell and Paul Jarvis standing in his way. He took his chances, scored some sensational individual tries and was easily player of the tournament. I hope Danny one day fulfills his potential and goes on to play sevens at international level.
"Mitchell showed his class and versatility by switching from centre to hooker to cover injuries, while Tonmawr's James Donovan was faultless at 9 and would comfortably slip into the Welsh sevens squad should he ever get a call. Both Jean Botha and Elliot Frewen got called up with just 24 hours notice but still cemented their places in the team and made valuable contributions in the final.
"Every player in this squad played his part and it was undoubtedly one of the most talented bunch of boys I have ever had the privilege to work with."
The Exiles only made it to Ireland thanks to the generosity and support of pensions and investment professional Chris Spillane, of Spillane and Company Wealth Management, in Colwyn Bay.
"I can't thank Chris enough for agreeing to help us again. Without him we would not have been able to send a team out there. He bailed us out at Manchester last year and we went on to win.
"Special thanks also go to Samurai Sportswear, Mackenzie Jones Solicitors (St Asaph, Prestatyn and Chester), Bsynergie Sports Management and Marine Holiday Park, Rhyl, who also helped make this trip possible. I just wish we could of rewarded their support with another trophy."
In just over a week, the Exiles are due to defend their Manchester Sevens title on Saturday May 14 and play in the Invitation Cup the following day. Two weeks later the will hope to go one better than last year by winning the famous Caldy Sevens tournament (May 29).
Samurai Exiles squad at the Kinsale Sevens: Tim Stevenson (Capt), Craig Everett, Rhys James, Jean Botha, James Donovan, Kieran Marmion, Paul Jarvis, Tom Mitchell, Danny Bibby, Elliott Frewen, Ed Tellwright and Guy "Dai" Watson.

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