The Loughborough Sevens has a long history, going back to the early 1960s. In the early days, the senior tournament attracted a huge entry of up to 64 mainly club sides with a scattering of 'invitation' sides, while the tournaments for the younger age groups were dominated by the traditional schools.

But the rugby scene has changed out of all recognition since then. The majority of young players now get their main rugby development in clubs. The Women's game has taken off. Only the best club sides can compete at the super-fast sevens game against the student and invitation sides with their concentration of fit youngsters. Last but not least professional rugby at the top level is now well-established.

The mini-league format ensures that all teams play a reasonable number of games.
Holding the festival over two days relieves the time pressures and ensures that teams have neither back-to-back games nor have to wait too long between games.
There are now two separate men's tournaments: the Bowl for bona fide club sides only (RFU level 6 and below) and the Hardisty Perpetual Challenge Cup open to all sides - club, student or invitation - providing they are suitably insured*.
The Youth Tournaments are open to all bona fide club, school or college sides, provided all players are in the respective age groups (under 19, under 17 and under 16 on the 31st Aug 2007).
The Women's Tournament is open to all Women's teams (players must be suitably insured*).

The mini-league format ensures that all teams play a reasonable number of games.

Holding the festival over two days relieves the time pressures and ensures that teams have neither back-to-back games nor have to wait too long between games.

There are now two separate men's tournaments: the Bowl for bona fide club sides only (RFU level 6 and below) and the Hardisty Perpetual Challenge Cup open to all sides - club, student or invitation - providing they are suitably insured*.

The Youth Tournaments are open to all bona fide club, school or college sides, provided all players are in the respective age groups (under 19, under 17 and under 16 on the 31st Aug 2007).

The Women's Tournament is open to all Women's teams (players must be suitably insured*).

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