Isle of Mull Rugby Sevens 2012 For 27 years “THE WORLD’S MOST SOCIABLE SEVENS” Saturday 19th May 2012 PROGRAMME & ENTRY Kick-off 1 p.m. Garmony, Near Craignure Isle of Mull £5 Programme £2 Main Sponsors We were delighted to have been a part of a very exciting year for Mull Rugby Club when we handed over the refurbished Club house earlier this year and took great pride in completing this special island project. We are confident that these improvements will help contribute towards a wonderful tournament – an annual event that is eagerly anticipated and never fails to be enjoyed by players and spectators alike. TSL would like to congratulate all those on the ground who put this day together and wish all the teams well. We extend a special welcome to those who have travelled from afar and to those who have never before attended the Mull Sevens. We are sure you will enjoy the sport, camaraderie and hospitality that is always associated with this unique event. Andy Knight TSL Contractors Ltd. IMPORTANT POLICE NOTICE Local police concerns are the need for a sufficient number of stewards to enforce licensing conditions on the premises. To work with the police 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. 1 ISLE OF MULL RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB 20 12 SEASON 2011-12 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Welcome to Mull and the “TSL Isle of Mull” 27th Sevens. We look forward to a great day of excellent rugby from all the teams involved. We welcome new friends from West of Scotland, Stobswell, Grangemouth and the Grim Creepers. A warm welcome also to Stirling Women. We hope you all will easily find the well worn path to the bar. Special thanks are due to 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 Eddie Crozier for organising the referees and to Marjorie for her understanding, support and catering through the season. Thanks to Naomi Knight for agreeing to present the prizes. I would like to give a warm welcome to the many clubs who participate gallantly each year and a particularly the outstanding women’s teams. I also very pleased to see West Highland representation from four teams. Good luck and thank you for your continued support and friendship! Sunday 20th May, A Social Clean-up Garmony Club House from 12 noon AGM Mull Rugby Club Wednesday 30th May, 7.30 at Garmony 10.30 a.m. Tag Rugby Finals 1.00 p.m. Kick-off men’s first league tie 1.24 p.m. Kick-off women’s first league tie 5.00 p.m. Finals 6.00 p.m. Presentation of trophies 9.00 p.m. Giant Celebration dance at the Club House 12 noon Sunday Clean-up. All help appreciated The Draw Mull Youth Page 14 Notice Board Photo Gallery Rugby Update The Teams Page 12 Page 18 Page 8 Page 15 2 TAKE ME TO THE MULL MULL Please: Organise your own transport from Garmony or contact: St Mary’s Private Mini Bus Hire (Jimmy) Tel: 01688 302204 Mobile 07899 723273 Iain English Taxi Hire Tel: 07810 666222 Mull Taxi Service (Alan Robson) Tel: 07760 426351 Mull and Iona Taxi (David Greenhalgh) Tel: 01681 700507 Mobile 07887 774550 Or even better you can camp down at the club house. 3 ISLE OF MULL WEST HIGHLAND AND ISLAND 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. By doing this we hope to promote rugby in Scotland’s West Highlands and Islands. 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. As an added incentive these trophies are for the winning club to keep. The rules for this competition are on Page 26. 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! This makes 2012 the twenty-seventh anniversary of the Worlds Most Sociable Sevens THE THEME OF THE 2012 SEVENS IS NAUGHTYCAL MULL 7’s PRIZES Men’s Winner Gruline Cup & Medals Women’s Winner Pink Cup & Medals Best West Highland Team’s ( Mens & Womens ) Trophies to Keep & Medals Players of the Tournament ( Selected by the Referees’ and Chosen from the West Highland Teams ) A great Social Seven’s !!!! SOME Really BUM PRIZES BEST SOCIAL WOMENS TEAM AWARD A BOTTLE OF FAKE CHAMPAGNE BEST SOCIAL MENS TEAM ANOTHER BOTTLE OF FAKE CHAMPAGNE Best Sevens Mascot SLOWEST REFEREE Or even better you can camp down at the club house. 4 QUALIFYING AREA WEST HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS TROPHY CARTHA 2011 CHAMPIONS STIRLING 2011 CHAMPIONS The Worlds Most Sociable Sevens Deagh Chraic 5 WEST HIGHLAND AND ISLAND TEAMS WHO HAVE ATTENDED THE ISLE OF MULL SEVENS ISLE OF MULL RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB CLUB HISTORY: Mull is the third largest island in the Hebrides, exceeded in area by only Lewis and Skye. The coast line, broken by sea lochs, bays and inlets, is the amazing length of over 300 miles. On Sunday 30th July, 1978 the first game of rugby was played and won on Mull! Shortly after, the Isle of Mull RFC was formed and has thrived under what can only be described as arduous conditions. April 1989 was the most successful in the history of Mull Rugby Club with three sevens victories. These achievements and the completion of the Garmony pitches gained the club the honour of being MacEwan’s Club of the Month in September of 1989. In the spring of 1994 we completed our Clubhouse. In 2002 the club became the first Glasgow and District island club to be promoted to the Scottish National Leagues. In September 2007 Mull was the first winner of the Hydro Electric Club of the Month. This reward was given in recognition of the success of the Mull junior section which had cumulated in winning a national tag rugby title at Murrayfield. 2012 has been a great year with a complete renovation of the Garmony clubhouse followed by two Sevens titles. WOMEN’S SECTION: Mull women’s teams have won the main tournament once. The women’s rugby team was officially constituted into the Isle of Mull Rugby Club in 1992. CLUB PITCH: Garmony. CLUB HOUSE: Garmony Clubhouse. ARRAN RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB CLUB HISTORY: It is often said that Arran is Scotland in miniature - having wild mountains to the north and a fertile plain to the south. An ideal gathering ground for rugby players. Arran Rugby club was started in September 1975 and for 10 years the club played only friendly games. In that time the hospitality of these islanders became legendary with many a visiting team, long overdue when finally returning home! In 1985 the club took a major step and joined the Glasgow District League. By careful timing of kick-offs they are able to play and return by ferry on the same day. We wish them well for next season when they are competing in the same league as Mull. NUMBER OF VISITS TO THE MULL SEVENS 10 BENBECULA NOMADS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB CLUB HISTORY: North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist have been linked by bridges and causeways to form a single ‘long island’. Benbecula is separated from its neighbours by stretches of shell sand and quick sand. On the southern slope of the largest hill Rueval, all of 408 feet high, is the cave in which Prince Charles Edward Stuart hid while waiting for Flora MacDonald. In 1977 some local lads and schoolboys got together and formed a rugby team. They have no home for the club; hence the name Benbecula Nomads. The locals found difficulty in sustaining a team and later combined with the army team. The number of civilians to service players fluctuated from year to year. Local players come from all three islands. The team have amazing travel difficulties. In fact on one occasion they left for a game in Edinburgh on Thursday and due to storms were not able to return until the following Wednesday! This perhaps explains why they play very, very few games. NUMBER OF VISITS TO THE MULL SEVENS 1 6 BUTE RUGBY CLUB CLUB HISTORY: With the mountains of Arran to the south and those of Argyll to the north, Bute is a lowland island in a highland setting. The capital is Rothesay, perhaps the best loved of all the Clyde resorts. Although closest of all the visiting teams to the main centres of rugby in and around Glasgow the Bute team is also restricted by a ferry journey across the Firth of Clyde to Wemyss Bay.