Festival seeking a Premiership boost (From Bournemouth Echo)

Festival seeking a Premiership boost

12:10am Saturday 13th June 2009 in

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PREMIERSHIP teams could line up at Chapel Gate next year as the Daily Echo-backed Bournemouth Sevens Festival again looks to further enhance its reputation.

The event attracted huge crowds for its second annual appearance on the rugby calendar last month.

Taking place over the second May Bank Holiday weekend, the showpiece saw thousands of rugby and netball players, fans and enthusiasts descend on the south coast to join in the fun.

And keen to not rest on their laurels despite becoming the world’s biggest tournament of its kind this year, the Bournemouth Sevens organisers have already begun to plan how to further develop the spectacular event.

One possibility is the country’s top-flight teams competing in the National Invitation Cup, the weekend’s main rugby competition.

In the previous two tournaments, this competition has provided a high level of rugby, with a number of international stars competing alongside players from the semi-professional circuit.

Organiser Roger Woodall of Diamond Sports Events told the Echo: “We’re looking at the possibility of Premiership teams coming down.

“We’re looking to get the likes of London Irish, Bristol, Bath and Gloucester because the reputation of this festival is becoming known on the world scene.

“People in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia are talking about it so we’re doing something right.”

With the rugby facet of the Bournemouth Sevens set to improve, the National Netball Festival, which is also hosted during the weekend, is set to see even more teams, as well as a junior competition over the course of the three days.

Next year’s festival, which will again take place at Chapel Gate on Bank Holiday weekend (May 28-30, 2010), is likely to attract crowds bigger than the 20,000 seen this year.

For further information visit www.bournemouthsevens.com