1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament
Encyclopedia
The 1973 International Seven-A-Side tournament was the first Rugby Sevens
tournament to feature national representative teams, predating the first official Rugby World Cup Sevens
by twenty years. Held in Scotland as part of the Scottish Rugby Union
's centenary celebrations, the tournament featured players from all eight of the members of the IRB
. Although not sanctioned by the IRB as an official world cup the winners, England
, were hailed by the press as the world seven-aside champions.
("SRU") and as part of the centenary celebrations the SRU decided to hold an international Rugby sevens tournament. The president of the SRU at the time, A.W. Wilson, later wrote of the decision to hold a sevens tournament, "It seemed most appropriate to us, in our Centenary Year, that we should pay some regard to a part of the game which has proved exhilarating and entertaining to us. One might say, a part of the heritage of Scotland and, of course, especially the Borders. An international Seven-a-Side Tournament was the answer. All the countries taking part were and are thrilled at this prospect."
The tournament was not advertised as a world cup but rather was styled "The International Seven-a-Side tournament". It was held on April 7, 1973 in Edinburgh, and all the International Rugby Football Board countries were represented, with the exception of South Africa. There was, however, South African representation in the form of several players in the eighth side in the tournament, the President's VII.
As in 1883 when the Scots invented Rugby Sevens, the tournament was to lead a trend. However, even though sevens had been established for 90 years, even the event program recognised its contemporary status by the inclusion in the inside front cover of an advertisement for Peter Scott Knitwear, featuring a man and woman in sweaters, looking amazed and accompanied by the caption: "International Seven-a-Sides. What next?". The programme for the event also sported the new coat of arms of the SRU that was granted by the Lord Lyon King of Arms
on 28 February, 1973, for the centenary season. The coat of arms is still in use today, but in the main the SRU use the commercial thistle logo on jerseys and stationary. The coat of arms has the motto "Non Sine Gloria", meaning "Not Without Glory".
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Source: The primary source for the squads below is the Official programme for the tournament. Wherever it is known that the players who played on the day differ from the programme details, this takes precedence, and is noted.
, Gerald Davies
, Phil Bennett
, and JPR Williams were beaten by an England side that included a number of Loughborough Colleges
students.
The groups were dominated by Ireland and England who both emerged with a perfect 3 wins out of 3. The final was an extremely close affair and Ireland missed out on the title by the smallest of rugby margins. In injury time, Ireland were leading 18-16 and were in the England 22. Fergus Slattery
needed only to hold on to the ball to preserve this lead but instead let loose an errant pass, which was intercepted and the England full international winger, Keith Fielding
, was able to run in the long try. The England side was a strong one, with all players to be full internationals. Loughborough Colleges
' Fran Cotton was the captain and in the final both Keith Fielding and Andy Ripley
scored. Mike Gibson, of Ireland, was selected the tournament's outstanding player.
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
tournament to feature national representative teams, predating the first official Rugby World Cup Sevens
Rugby World Cup Sevens
The Rugby World Cup Sevens is the premier international Rugby sevens competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the men's national sevens teams every four years. The inaugural tournament was held in 1993 in Scotland, the...
by twenty years. Held in Scotland as part of the Scottish Rugby Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
's centenary celebrations, the tournament featured players from all eight of the members of the IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
. Although not sanctioned by the IRB as an official world cup the winners, England
England national rugby union team (sevens)
The English national rugby union sevens team compete in the World Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-Honours:* 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament - Winners* Rugby World Cup Sevens Winners 1993* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2002* Hong Kong Sevens Winners 2003*...
, were hailed by the press as the world seven-aside champions.
Background
1973 was the centenary year of the Scottish Rugby UnionScottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
("SRU") and as part of the centenary celebrations the SRU decided to hold an international Rugby sevens tournament. The president of the SRU at the time, A.W. Wilson, later wrote of the decision to hold a sevens tournament, "It seemed most appropriate to us, in our Centenary Year, that we should pay some regard to a part of the game which has proved exhilarating and entertaining to us. One might say, a part of the heritage of Scotland and, of course, especially the Borders. An international Seven-a-Side Tournament was the answer. All the countries taking part were and are thrilled at this prospect."
The tournament was not advertised as a world cup but rather was styled "The International Seven-a-Side tournament". It was held on April 7, 1973 in Edinburgh, and all the International Rugby Football Board countries were represented, with the exception of South Africa. There was, however, South African representation in the form of several players in the eighth side in the tournament, the President's VII.
As in 1883 when the Scots invented Rugby Sevens, the tournament was to lead a trend. However, even though sevens had been established for 90 years, even the event program recognised its contemporary status by the inclusion in the inside front cover of an advertisement for Peter Scott Knitwear, featuring a man and woman in sweaters, looking amazed and accompanied by the caption: "International Seven-a-Sides. What next?". The programme for the event also sported the new coat of arms of the SRU that was granted by the Lord Lyon King of Arms
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
on 28 February, 1973, for the centenary season. The coat of arms is still in use today, but in the main the SRU use the commercial thistle logo on jerseys and stationary. The coat of arms has the motto "Non Sine Gloria", meaning "Not Without Glory".
Participating nations
The eight teams were divided into two pools of four as follows:| Pool A | Pool B
|
Pool A
| Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 62 | 34 | 28 | 6 | |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 58 | 50 | 8 | 4 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 42 | 60 | |||
| 2 | |||||||
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 46 | |||
| 0 | |||||||
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Pool B
| Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | +/- | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 70 | 26 | 44 | 6 | |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 76 | 38 | 38 | 4 | |
| President's VII | 3 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 70 | ||
| 2 | |||||||
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 78 | |||
| 0 | |||||||
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Final
----Squads
The eight teams were divided into two pools of four as follows:Source: The primary source for the squads below is the Official programme for the tournament. Wherever it is known that the players who played on the day differ from the programme details, this takes precedence, and is noted.
Pool A
|
Grant Batty Grant Bernard Batty is a former rugby union footballer. A diminutive but effective wing for the All Blacks, he has also coached Yamaha Jubilo, a team in Japan's Top League. His son Sam Batty played halfback for the Gold Coast Breakers, However is now playing for Port Douglas, in the Cairns and... . . . . . Alex Wyllie Alex "Grizz" Wyllie is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer and coach.Wyllie began his first-class career with Canterbury in 1964 and played 210 matches for the province until 1979, serving as captain on over one hundred occasions... . . . . |
(Gala Gala RFC Gala Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, founded in 1875, they play their home games at Netherdale.... ) (Gala Gala RFC Gala Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, founded in 1875, they play their home games at Netherdale.... ) Colin Telfer Colin McLeod Telfer, was a Scottish rugby union player, who played as a fly-half.He was capped seventeen times for between 1968-1976. He also played for Hawick RFC.... (Hawick Hawick RFC Hawick Rugby Football Club is a semi-professional rugby union side, currently playing in the Premiership Division One and Border League. The team are based at Mansfield Park at Hawick in the Scottish Borders.... ) (Hawick Hawick RFC Hawick Rugby Football Club is a semi-professional rugby union side, currently playing in the Premiership Division One and Border League. The team are based at Mansfield Park at Hawick in the Scottish Borders.... ) (Gala Gala RFC Gala Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, founded in 1875, they play their home games at Netherdale.... ) (Gala Gala RFC Gala Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, founded in 1875, they play their home games at Netherdale.... ) (Gala Gala RFC Gala Rugby Football Club are a rugby union team based in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, founded in 1875, they play their home games at Netherdale.... )2 Ian McGeechan Sir Ian Robert McGeechan OBE is a Scottish former rugby union player and coach. His nickname is "Geech".-Playing career:... (Headingley) (Jordanhill Hillhead Jordanhill RFC Hillhead-Jordanhill Rugby Football Club, nicknamed "Hills", is a Premier Two rugby union club who play their home games at Hughenden in the heart of the West End of Glasgow. Despite its name it is not located in either the Hillhead or Jordanhill, although the pre-merger clubs did have historical... ) |
(Lansdowne) (Ballymena Ballymena RFC Ballymena Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland. It is affiliated to the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. The club fields six adult teams and an under-20 team. In youth rugby there are under-18, under-16 and under-14 teams... ) (NIFC North of Ireland FC North of Ireland Football Club is a former Irish rugby union club that was based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was the first rugby club formed in what is now Northern Ireland and only two other clubs - Dublin University and Wanderers - were formed earlier anywhere else in all Ireland . It was... ) (Cork Con Cork Constitution Cork Constitution is a club, based in Cork. It was founded by staff of the Cork Constitution. Since the paper did not publish on Sundays, the staff were looking for activities to pursue on Saturday afternoons. In the summer, cricket was played, while in the winter, rugby was the designated... )1 Fergus Slattery John Fergus Slattery is a former rugby union player who represented Ireland. He played schools rugby for Blackrock College and then moved on to play senior rugby for UCD, before earning a call up to the Ireland team in 1970. During his career Slattery earned 61 caps, 18 as captain, and scored 3... (Blackrock College Blackrock College RFC Blackrock College Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club located in Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 by former pupils of Blackrock College... ) (Garryowen Garryowen Football Club Garryowen Football Club , usually referred to as Garryowen, is a rugby union club from Limerick, Ireland. Historically it has been one of the most successful clubs in Irish rugby union leagues.-Name:... ) (University College, Dublin University College Dublin R.F.C. University College Dublin Rugby Football Club is the rugby club of University College Dublin, based in Dublin, Ireland. They play their home games at UCD Bowl. The club was founded in 1910 and they won their first trophy, the Leinster Junior Challenge Cup, in 1914. In 1924 they won their first... ) (Highfield Highfield RFC Highfield Rugby Football club www.highfieldrfc.ie is a rugby union club based in Cork in Ireland. The club was founded in 1930 and was elevated to senior status in the province of Munster in 1953. Before moving to its present grounds, at Woodleigh Park, it was based in fields off Magazine Road,... ) (Garryowen Garryowen Football Club Garryowen Football Club , usually referred to as Garryowen, is a rugby union club from Limerick, Ireland. Historically it has been one of the most successful clubs in Irish rugby union leagues.-Name:... ) |
Pool B
|
Keith Fielding Keith John Fielding is an English former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, '70s and '80s who at representative level has played rugby union for England, and at club level for Moseley Rugby Football Club, playing at Wing, i.e... Moseley RFC Moseley Rugby Football Club Moseley Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club, based at Billesley Common in Birmingham, that competes in the RFU Championship. The club was historically the premier rugby club in Birmingham, reaching the final of the John Player Cup three times in the late 1970s and early 1980s... David Duckham David John Duckham MBE is a retired English rugby union player. He played 36 games for England from 1969 to 1976 and scored 10 tries. Duckham made his debut at centre, partnering John Spencer against Ireland in 1969... Coventry Coventry R.F.C. Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the city of Coventry, England. The club enjoyed national success during the 1960s and the 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries.... Peter Rossborough Peter Rossborough is a former a rugby union international who represented England from 1971 to 1975. He played club rugby for Coventry R.F.C. during the 1970s.-Rugby union career:... Coventry Coventry R.F.C. Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the city of Coventry, England. The club enjoyed national success during the 1960s and the 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries.... Steve Smith (English rugby player) For other rugby players of the same name see Steve Smith and Steve Smith Stephen James Smith is a former international rugby union player... Sale Sale Sharks Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the... Fran Cotton Francis Edward Cotton is a former English rugby union prop forward who played for England and the British Lions. His clubs included Coventry R.F.C. and Sale. After retiring, he remained in rugby administration and founded a clothing company... (c Captain (sports) In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field... ) Loughborough Colleges John Gray (rugby league) John D. Gray is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative has played level for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Wigan, North Sydney Bears , and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, playing at , or /, i.e... Coventry Coventry R.F.C. Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the city of Coventry, England. The club enjoyed national success during the 1960s and the 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries.... Andy Ripley Andrew George Ripley, OBE was an English rugby union international, who represented England from 1972 to 1976, and the British Lions on their unbeaten 1974 tour of South Africa.-Early life:... Rosslyn Park Rosslyn Park F.C. Rosslyn Park Football Club is a rugby union team. Founded in 1879, the club became the first club based in England to play rugby internationally when it faced Stade Francais in Paris on 18 April 1892. In 1912, the club played in Prague, Budapest and Vienna in the first rugby matches ever played in... Roger Uttley Roger Miles Uttley OBE MA is a former English rugby union player.- Career :He played 23 games for England both in the second row and the back row, 5 times as captain, 4 tests in the Lions back row on the undefeated 1974 tour to South Africa.Roger was born in Blackpool, and played first for... Gosforth Gosforth Rugby Football Club The Gosforth Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team, currently playing in the Durham & Northumberland Division 1. The club was established in 1877 and they play at Druid Park stadium in Woolsington, Newcastle upon Tyne... Peter Preece Peter Preece is a former rugby union international who represented England from 1972 to 1976.-Early life:Peter Preece was born on 15 November 1949 in Meriden... Coventry Coventry R.F.C. Coventry Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the city of Coventry, England. The club enjoyed national success during the 1960s and the 1970s, with many of its players playing for their countries.... |
President's VII
(West of Scotland) (Heriot's F.P.) (Hawick) (Melrose) (South Africa) (Edinburgh Wanderers) (South Africa) (South Africa) (Gala) |
(Llanelli) Gerald Davies Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE is one of the acknowledged greats of Welsh rugby, playing for the side between 1966 and 1978.-Biography:... (London Welsh) Phil Bennett Phillip Bennett was a Welsh international rugby union fly half from 1969 to 1978. His flair and range of tricks, including his famous sidestep and swerve, meant he was a firm favourite with crowds.-Rugby career:... (Llanelli) Gareth Edwards Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey".... (Cardiff) Mervyn Davies Thomas Mervyn "Merv the Swerve" Davies , is a former Welsh rugby union player who won 38 caps for Wales as a No. 8.Davies was born in Swansea, where he attended Penlan County School.... (Swansea) John Taylor (rugby player) John Taylor is a Welsh former rugby union player and current commentator. Nicknamed "Basil Brush" thanks to his wild hair and beard, he played as a flanker for London Welsh , and represented Wales 26 times between 1967 and 1973.-Rugby career:Perhaps his most famous moment was in the Five Nations... (London Welsh) (London Welsh) Glyn Shaw Glyndwr "Glyn" Shaw is a Welsh former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Neath RFC, playing at Prop forward, i.e... (Neath) (Bridgend) |
Summary
The teams put forward by the various nations featured many names with test-status fifteen-aside careers. The Scottish side had a number of sevens specialists, many from the Gala club that itself had for a number of years previous had an excellent run of form. The three Browns, all unrelated, Frame and Gill all from the Gala club joined a former Galalean in Stan Davidson and Colin Telfer, as the main Scottish side. Another Gala player, Nairn MacEwan, was on the bench for the President's VII. In the group stages, the tournament had a huge upset when a star-studded Welsh team including Gareth EdwardsGareth Edwards
Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"....
, Gerald Davies
Gerald Davies
Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE is one of the acknowledged greats of Welsh rugby, playing for the side between 1966 and 1978.-Biography:...
, Phil Bennett
Phil Bennett
Phillip Bennett was a Welsh international rugby union fly half from 1969 to 1978. His flair and range of tricks, including his famous sidestep and swerve, meant he was a firm favourite with crowds.-Rugby career:...
, and JPR Williams were beaten by an England side that included a number of Loughborough Colleges
Loughborough Students RUFC
Loughborough Students Rugby Union Football Club is the rugby club that represents Loughborough University in rugby union competition. Of the British universities, Loughborough has unparalleled success, having won the BUCS championship on twenty seven occasions...
students.
The groups were dominated by Ireland and England who both emerged with a perfect 3 wins out of 3. The final was an extremely close affair and Ireland missed out on the title by the smallest of rugby margins. In injury time, Ireland were leading 18-16 and were in the England 22. Fergus Slattery
Fergus Slattery
John Fergus Slattery is a former rugby union player who represented Ireland. He played schools rugby for Blackrock College and then moved on to play senior rugby for UCD, before earning a call up to the Ireland team in 1970. During his career Slattery earned 61 caps, 18 as captain, and scored 3...
needed only to hold on to the ball to preserve this lead but instead let loose an errant pass, which was intercepted and the England full international winger, Keith Fielding
Keith Fielding
Keith John Fielding is an English former dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s, '70s and '80s who at representative level has played rugby union for England, and at club level for Moseley Rugby Football Club, playing at Wing, i.e...
, was able to run in the long try. The England side was a strong one, with all players to be full internationals. Loughborough Colleges
Loughborough Students RUFC
Loughborough Students Rugby Union Football Club is the rugby club that represents Loughborough University in rugby union competition. Of the British universities, Loughborough has unparalleled success, having won the BUCS championship on twenty seven occasions...
' Fran Cotton was the captain and in the final both Keith Fielding and Andy Ripley
Andy Ripley
Andrew George Ripley, OBE was an English rugby union international, who represented England from 1972 to 1976, and the British Lions on their unbeaten 1974 tour of South Africa.-Early life:...
scored. Mike Gibson, of Ireland, was selected the tournament's outstanding player.