Kew Occasionals RFC

Kew Occasionals won the Mens XV's event at the Piotrowice Nyskie International Rugby Festival on Saturday 3rd September in Silesia, Poland, beating Vienna Celtics 33-5 and Warsaw Frogs 27-14 to win the Jones Lang LaSalle Trophy kindly donated and sponsored by Warsaw-based old Kew Johnny Duckworth who turned out for the Frogs. Having had a disappointing response from our regular playing base, we were boosted at late notice by a strong contigent from Loughborough University assembled by Adam Rae, who made his debut for us last year and who was most certainly Man of the Tour for lots of reasons.
There were over 10 Ladies Sevens sides entered, mostly due to the splendid efforts of Renée Carmine-Jones of the Austrian RFU and the main competition was won by a strong Romanian national team who beat leading Polish club side Lechia Gdansk 26-5 in the final to take the Rhino Rugby Trophy.
The Men's Sevens event was won by Austria who defeated the Czech Republic 28-21 in that final to win the Rule Financial Trophy.
Jim's dream of a 'Glastonburyski of Rugby' was gloriously vindicated with beautifully sunny weather which made the barn style and camping accomodation arrangements fun. The event really couldn't have gone better and many congratulations and enormous thanks to Jim and Anna. Over 300 people from 23 different nationalities participated - and this in the inaugural year. It really does have all the makings of a cult event....roll on the next one!

Playing squad: Chris Bucknall (capt), Dave Bucknall, Eric Gleave, Mike Vincent, Sabro Takahashi, John Toppon, Barry McConnell, Joe McCarthy, Jim Parton, Tom Mercer, Jamie Doubleday, Adam Rae, Michael Parks, Chris Moncur, Nathan Iles, Owen Lewis, Frank Maher, Ben Grout, Ben Gerner, Tim Barford, Ozzie Wolf, Ali Stevens, Josh Smith, John Le Gassicke.

Our guests played in the Mens Sevens as Loughborough University, and having beaten Austria B 19-12 were eliminated 26-17 by Ruda Slaska, to whom great credit for a surprise result.

Dave Bucknall, in addition to a couple of cameo appearances, did a great job as Tournament Director. Richie Baird kindly took a group to a nearby pitch for a local Womens Club Sevens exhibition tournament and along with Reg Clark shared refereering responsibilities with Jerry and Monika from Poland and Steff from Austria. Many thanks to them all and to Sean Cosgrave for acting as tournament photographer having had to withdraw due to injury.