The Middlesex Sevens was a Rugby Sevens tournament held annually at Twickenham stadium in London, England until 2011. It was first held in 1926, and started by Dr J.A. Russell-Cargill, a London-based Scot.Bath, Scotland Rugby Miscellany, p82 The event was held at the end of the rugby union season in May every year for 75 years, but moved to August in 2001 due to lack of available stadium dates and players in May. The Middlesex Sevens tournament was last played in 2011, as the new Premiership Rugby 7s Series caused many of the top clubs that previously took part to pull out.

This tournament was a charitable event, officially called the Middlesex Charity Sevens, with the beneficiaries being Wooden Spoon and the RFU Injured Players Fund. Middlesex Charity Sevens raised over £10 million for charities.

History Traditionally the Middlesex Sevens was an invitation tournament with entertainment derived from overseas and qualifying sides challenging rugby union's top teams. In 2005 the tournament became a twelve team competition with only Rugby Premiership teams participating. In 2008 the tournament reverted to sixteen teams. Brazil was amongst the teams invited to take part in the 2011 tournament. The final was played between Esher RFC and Samurai.

Two rugby league clubs have won the Middlesex Sevens. In 1996 Wigan brought a star-studded team including Martin Offiah, Shaun Edwards, Andy Farrell, Va'aiga Tuigamala and Jason Robinson to Twickenham in 1996. Bradford Bulls were champions in 2002.

The Women's Middlesex 7s was introduced in 2011, the final year of the tournament, and was won by Wooden Spoon Women.

List of winners

By wins Team Titles Years of Titles WonHarlequins141926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1935, 1967, 1978, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2008Richmond91951, 1953, 1955, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1983London Welsh81930, 1931, 1956, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1984London Scottish71937, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1991London Wasps51948, 1952, 1985, 1993, 2006Loughborough Colleges51959, 1964, 1966, 1970, 1976St. Mary's Hospital51940, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946Rosslyn Park41947, 1950, 1954, 1981Barbarians31934, 1997, 1998Blackheath21932, 1958British Army22001, 2004Penguins21999, 2000ULR Samurai22010, 2011St Luke's College21957, 1969Bath11994Bradford Bulls (RL)12002Cambridge University11941Cardiff11939Gloucester12005Heriot's FP11949Leicester Tigers11995London Irish12009Metropolitan Police11938Newcastle Falcons12007Northampton Saints12003Nottingham11945Sale11936Stewart's Melville FP11982Western Samoa11992Wigan (RL)11996

See also Rugby Sevens

References

Bibliography Bath, Richard (editor) The Scotland Rugby Miscellany (Vision Sports Publishing, 2007 )

External links