Exeter great in BUCS sevens plate

Durham University edged out University of Wales Institute Cardiff in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Sevens Championship at Preston Grasshoppers.

The two-day Preston event was the product of five regional qualification festivals in which over 40 teams participated.

In the women’s section, the Loughborough v University of Exeter tie was the pick, the former getting home 12-5 in a another tense affair to set up a semi-final against Leeds Met.

Now the top four men's and women's teams will compete in the prestigious European Students Festival, in Lille France, between 29th June and 3rd July, which Exeter ladies have been given an invite to going through as plate winners. Exeter ladies won this tournament in Bristol 2 years ago so they are hoping to shine once again. Victory in the men’s competition also earns Durham a place in the Middlesex Charity 7s at Twickenham.

BUCS Sevens finals results

Men: Cup qualifiers – Loughborough w/o, Newcastle 47 Medway 0, Leeds Met 47 Glamorgan 7, Bristol 36 Liverpool 7, Manchester 33 Bath 17, Hartpury 33 Exeter 3. Plate quarter-final – Glamorgan 38 Medway 3. Cup quarter-finals – UWIC 19 Hartpury 12, Durham 26 Manchester 12, Loughborough 19 Bristol 14, Newcastle 26 Leeds Met 19. Plate semi-finals – Bath 36 Glamorgan 12, Exeter 21 Liverpool 12. Cup semi-finals – UWIC 40 Newcastle 12, Durham 12 Loughborough 7. Plate final – Bath 19 Exeter 26. Cup final – UWIC 27 Durham 29.

Women: Cup quarter-finals – UWIC 49 Leeds 0, Leeds Met 36 Chester 0, Loughborough 12 Exeter 5, Edinburgh 24 Manchester 10. Plate semi-finals – Leeds 17 Manchester 24, Chester 7 Exeter 38. Cup semi-finals – UWIC 26 Edinburgh 0, Leeds Met 17 Loughborough 12. Plate final – Manchester 7 Exeter 39. Cup final – UWIC 48 Leeds Met 7.

Former England and British Lions captain Bill Beaumont OBE and Bob Reeves, RFU chair of Student Rugby and RFU Junior Vice President, presented the trophies.