CENTRAL EVENTS ISLE OF MULL HOTEL Isle of Mull Isle of Mull Rugby Sevens Hotel & Spa 2018 For 33 years “THE WORLD’S MOST SOCIABLE SEVENS” PROGRAMME Saturday 19th May 2018 & ENTRY Kick-off 12.30 p.m. £5 Garmony, Craignure, Isle of Mull Programme £2 Sevens Sponsors Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa MESSAGE FROM OUR SEVENS SPONSORS Central Events is proud to be the official event sponsor of the world famous Isle of Mull Rugby Sevens Tournament 2018. The Isle of Mull has graciously welcomed Central-Events to her beautiful land with open arms throughout the years allowing us to provide marquee cover for weddings and events across the Island. Central Events itself is a West coast company and we pride ourselves on striving to give the people of Mull the best marquee event possible no matter what the terrain or weather. We would like to wish all the teams luck and look forward to the fantastic atmosphere of the tournament Sam Newall CENTRAL MARQUEES The Isle of Mull Hotel is very pleased to support the worlds "Most Sociable Sevens" in this, it's 33rd year. The Isle of Mull Hotel is a member of the Crerar Hotel Group and the very heart of our ethos is a close involvement with the community. With this in mind it's wonderful to see so many teams from all over Scotland and beyond attending the Sevens. We wish all the teams good luck and look forward to an exciting tournament. Isle of Mull Hotel All our Brilliant Club Sponsors TSL Construction, AGL Architects, Inverlussa Marine Services, Steve Douglas (Ingelas Gallery), Glengorm, Mull Slaughterhouse, Isle of Mull Hotel, Tobermory Hotel Ltd. Island Pork and Isle of Mull Cheese, Tobermory Fish Company 1 ISLE OF MULL RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB 20 18 SEASON 2017-18 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Welcome to the Isle of Mull Rugby Sevens. This is our 33rd event which is quite an achievement in itself. We look forward to a great day of excellent rugby from all the teams involved and hope you enjoy your visit to our beautiful Island. The weather forecast is dry and sunny which will only add to the enjoyment of our special sevens day. We are particularly pleased to welcome Hillhead Jordanhill women and extend a warm greeting to Sevens virgins Commonwealth Crusaders, Scots Guards, The Red Kites and Lafferty’s Lightning. We hope you will all find an easy path to the bar and purchase a shandy or two! As usual we give our appreciation to all those who contribute in every way to ensure the continuing success of this very special event from the helpers, supporters, players and through to the ball boys. Very many thanks also to Andy Summers for organising the referees and to Morven for her understanding, support through the season. A special thanks to our joint sponsors, The Isle of Mull Hotel and Central Marquees. I would also like to thank the many teams who participate gallantly each year and particularly the outstanding women’s teams. I’m confident that we can round off the year with a wonderful enjoyable sevens tournament which will only spur us on while we await the start of the new rugby season with renewed enthusiasm. I’m sure you will also give a thought to those of us who are no longer with us in particular Angus whose commitment, effort and love of rugby was unsurpassed, he was Mull rugby. Good luck and thank you for your continued support and friendship! Have a great day! Sunday 20th May, A Social Clean-up Garmony Club House from 12 noon AGM Mull Rugby Club Wednesday 30th May, 7.30 at Garmony Saturday Morning Tag Rugby Finals Saturday Afternoon Men’s Tournament Women’s Tournament Late Afternoon Finals Early Evening Presentation of trophies Saturday Evening Giant Celebration dance at the Club House Sunday Clean-up. All help is really appreciated Mull Youth About the Day Notice Board Photo Gallery Rugby Record Page 14 Page 12 Page 18 Page 8 Page 15 2 THE EUROPEANS 7’s CEILIDH at the CLUBHOUSE From 9pm till late with the DEMOCRATS Admission £5.00 TAKE ME TO THE MULL MULL RUGBY SEVENS Please camp at Garmony, organise your own transport or contact: Island Taxi (Iain English) Taxi Tel: 07510 195989 Mull Taxi Service (Alan Robson) Tel: 07760 426351 Chris Taxi Hire (Chris) Tel: 07493 886237 Tobermory Taxis (Andy Malcolm) 07810 666222 IMPORTANT NOTICE Working with the police to enforce licensing conditions on the premises club stewards will be readily identifiable by name badges. One particular worry is that younger club supporters (not being able to purchase at the bar) may try and bring alcohol onto the premises. The stewards are under instructions that only alcohol purchased on the premises can be consumed on the premises. Alcohol from other sources must not be brought into the club house. 3 ISLE OF MULL HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS RUGBY SEVENS TOURNAMENT Started in 1985 the Isle of Mull Sevens Tournament brings together rugby clubs from all over the West Highlands and Islands along with guest players. Rugby players from all walks of life and all levels of skill compete on equal terms of skill and enjoyment. The very social nature of rugby and the fact that it is a game for all weathers makes it an ideal sport for our isolated rural areas where long trips and overnight stays are commonplace. Mull’s geographic position in the centre of this remote area makes it the perfect setting for a competition of this nature. For these reasons the Sevens Committee award trophies to the best West Highland team in the tournament. In 1992 the Mull Sevens made rugby history by running a dual tournament for both ladies and men. This was the first of its kind anywhere in the world! SOCIAL OR SERIOUS In the "Worlds most Sociable Sevens" no teams are excluded no matter what the standard they play. 2018 the thirty-third anniversary of the Worlds Most Sociable Sevens and the twenty-seventh Worlds first men’s and woman’s sevens tournament. THE THEME OF THE 2018 SEVENS IS EUROPEANS (with a sprinkling of wedding bells) THE MULL 7's CUP WINNERS Men: Gruline Cup & Medals Women: Pink Cup & Medals EAGLE FINALS Eagle Trophies for Men and Women's Teams BEER AND BUBBLY FINALS Best Social Sides in the Tournament FUN AND FAIR PLAY AWARDS HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS AWARDS PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT AWARDS ( Selected by the Referees from the West Highland Teams ) 4 HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS RUGBY Spot the guest of honour at last years Sevens The Worlds Most Sociable Sevens Deagh Chraic The World Most Sociable Sevens by Stuart Rutherford (Stuart is John Rutherford’s youngest son who works as Media Manager for the Edinburgh Rugby) For fans of the oval-ball the Island of Mull Sevens has long been a destination mecca. Started in 1985, this tournament quickly gained the reputation as being 'the world's most sociable Sevens' – an epithet that has stuck and for good reason. With both a men's and woman's tournament; an annual fancy-dress theme (last year was the topical selection of Trumps and Tarts) and a vibrant tented village, the party ethos is more than just a nifty slogan. The tournament has transformed significantly since it's inception 32 years ago. Back then former Scotland and Lions' stand-off, John Rutherford – a long time visitor to the island – decided to introduce his chums, and fellow internationalists, to Hebridean rugby. With the likes of John Beattie, Andy Irvine, Roger Baird and Roy Laidlaw making the trip north, the first Mull Sevens was played and the rest, as they say, is history. Today Mull and its community have a passion for Sevens rugby. Tom Nelson, a past clubs president of ten years standing, is more likely to be found flipping venison burgers than schmoozing with visiting officials. He explained to me just why the Mull Sevens continues to attract teams from across the country. "Its reputation and people know they are going to have a great time here," he states, "It really is the world's most sociable sevens and that is not just some strap-line that has been made up. When you come to Mull Sevens you know your whole team is going to have a brilliant time. It's not just a one-day event – teams will arrive on Friday night and they won't head home until the Sunday morning. I think we must have had around 80 tents around our pitch this year. We have a great lunch before the Sevens kicks-off and absolutely all the food is donated. It is a banquet that you're not going to get anywhere else – it's nearly all local produce. I think the Sevens will always be fantastic and luckily people still want to come because we offer something completely different. It is an amazing experience to come camp next to the pitch and play in such picturesque surroundings." Not content with playing the role of grateful hosts, Mull's Sevens side have enjoyed an unprecedented run of success. After winning the tournament in 2012 for the first time since 1989, the island outfit have reached the final four out of the last five years. "I think in Mull we aspire to play real rugby, and it's probably a Sevens style of rugby, not unlike you would find in the Borders," says Mull's head coach, Fergus White. "We really try to move the ball and that dovetails into our Sevens play.