Warwick Sevens

Warwick School is proud to host an annual Warwick Sevens Tournament.

This provides an excellent opportunity for some of the top rugby schools in England and Wales to showcase their skills and abilities in the exciting seven-a-side format of the game.

Young rugby player running on grassy field.

Tournament Structure

For the U14, U15 and U16 age groups, the Warwick 7s Tournament features Cup, Shield and Plate competitions, with knock-out rounds following the initial pool stages.

This structure ensures that teams play meaningful, competitive rugby throughout the day. The U13s compete in a two-phase ‘waterfall’ format, designed to give all players equal game time at a level that best suits their stage of development. A unique and historic feature of the Warwick 7s is the awarding of the Freeborn Shield. This prestigious trophy is presented to the

school achieving the highest overall performance across all age groups. As a result, every match contributes to a school’s standing, adding excitement and significance from the first kick-off to the final whistle.

The Freeborn Shield

A unique and historic feature of the Warwick 7s is the awarding of the Freeborn Shield. This prestigious trophy is presented to the school achieving the highest overall performance across all age groups. As a result, every match contributes to a school’s standing, adding excitement and significance from the first kick-off to the final whistle.

Rugby values at the heart of the day

Each year, the tournament showcases not only outstanding competition but also the qualities that make rugby such a special sport. Players consistently embody the RFU Core Values: Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship.

These values are evident in every game, creating an atmosphere that is competitive, spirited and true to the best traditions of school rugby.

About Warwick Sevens

History

Since 1969

Group of sports players with medals and a trophy

Previous Winners

Competition Rules

History

Since 1969

2026 marked the 57th anniversary of the Warwick School Sevens, with the first tournament taking place on a fine sunny afternoon on Saturday, 8 March 1969.

The origins of the tournament lie with long-serving member of staff and rugby enthusiast, Ralph Thornton (Warwick School staff 1948-89). Ralph was responsible for introducing Sevens to Warwick School at senior level and instigated the Warwick Sevens, identifying an appetite and need for a competition for younger players. Ralph set up the tournament in the group format which remains to this day – giving opportunities for more pitch time and negating the need for teams to get back on the bus after just one match. That first tournament was extremely well received, and the Warwick Sevens has developed into an important and popular fixture in the school’s rugby calendar.

The scale of the tournament has changed considerably over fifty years. In 1969 there were two tournaments – one for the U16s and one for the U15s.

In the U16 competition, eight teams were split into two groups:

Group 1: Ratcliffe College, Bablake, Leamington College and Solihull School
Group 2: Lawrence Sheriff, King Henry VIII, King Edward’s School Birmingham, and Warwick

The two group winners played in the final. In the first year Warwick scored a decisive victory over Ratcliffe College by 18 points to nil. In 1969 the four teams in the U15 section (Ratcliffe, King Henry VIII, Solihull and Warwick) also played each other on a league basis. Three teams each won two games in a very close competition, but on points average Warwick were declared winners.

The U16 and U15 competitions have taken place every year since then, with the U14s, and U13s being added at a later stage.

The number of schools participating has also grown over time, as has the geographical reach of the tournament. In the early years, the competition was between local schools. Now, we are delighted to also welcome schools from much further afield.

The rules remain the same, but one key difference between then and now is the size of the squad. Initially, no substitutes were allowed. If players were injured, they could not be replaced until the next match. It has been known for a team to have only four boys left standing at the final whistle!

In the early years, Warwick School teachers (and those from other participating schools) acted as referees. Refereeing several games in one afternoon sometimes puts undue pressure on the fitness levels and long-distance eyesight of some of the more senior members of staff! Now, qualified independent referees are also used.

Not every Warwick Sevens has been blessed with spring sunshine, on 8 March 1969, snow caused cancellation on one occasion. We hope the weather gods will smile upon us as we celebrate fifty-seven years of the Warwick School Sevens.

Also in 1969…

The Guy Nelson Hall was completed, costing a total of £95,000.
Head Master PW Martin having just received the keys for the school’s first minibus.
Old Warwickian, Tim Dalton, played rugby for England, the first OW to be selected at this level.

Competition Rules

Age limits will be determined by a player’s age on 1 September. All players must play within their own age band.

Squad size is 12-14. Coaches can use their own discretion on the number of players they wish to bring. However, all players must be given ample opportunity to be involved throughout the tournament. The event aims to give boys opportunities to play and develop in their sport.

The tournament will be played in accordance with the Sevens Variations included in the IRB Laws of the Game, and RFU Regulation 15 stipulations.

In accordance with the Youth Sevens Variations, the following rules will be adhered to:

Rolling substitutions are permitted throughout.
For a kick at goal following a try (which shall be a drop kick), only one player of the opposing team will be required to be behind the goal line to receive the ball – that player may not charge.
Following a score, the kick-off shall be a drop kick taken at or behind the centre of the half-way line by the team which has scored.
If kick-offs fail to go 10m, are kicked directly into touch, over the dead-ball line, or touched down in-goal immediately, it will be a free kick.
There will be no Goal-Line Dropouts or 50:22s.
Penalty kicks at goal must be a drop kick.
Sin bin offences will last for 2mins. Red Card (foul play) offenses will disqualify the player from the remainder of the tournament.

Half-time will be two minutes. No additional time will be played during pool games beyond the 20-minute allocated block of time for each match. If, for any reason (injury, late kick-off, etc) the full 14 minutes of game time is not completed, the result stands for the score at the conclusion of the 20-minute allocated time.

If a team does not arrive on time for their game, the opposition will be awarded a 20-0 walkover.

The pool rounds will be determined by the team scoring the most ‘points’ in the pool. (Win = 3pts, Draw = 2pts, Loss = 1pt, No Show = 0pts).

In the event of a tie at the end of the group stages, the result will be decided by:

The result from the game where the two teams played
Points difference
Points for
Coin toss

In the event of a draw in the Knockout Rounds, the team to qualify will be decided by (i) the first team to score a try (ii) the first team to score (iii) if 0-0, it will be a ‘Golden Point’ in extra time (five minutes max) (vi) coin toss. Finals will be decided by a ‘Golden Point’ in extra time (five-minute halves).

Decisions of the tournament organiser will be final. Only staff members are to enter the Control Centre.

U13 Waterfall Tournament – Variations

All matches will be across half a full 3G pitch (Try lines will be on the 5m lines).
KOs – Conceding team gets to decide ‘Kick or Receive’. (A line of cones will delineate the half-way and 7m line).
Lineouts – free pass 5m in from where the ball crossed the line of touch.
Scrums – Push & Strike are Contested.
KOs – Conceding team gets to decide ‘Kick or Receive.’ ·
Kicking: Fly-hacking is allowed. There will be no kicks for goal (conversions or penalties).
*NB – One ‘Player of the Tournament’ medal will be given to each team to be distributed at the coach’s discretion.
Freeborn Shield Competition
All schools involved in the tournament will compete for the Freeborn Trophy which combines the overall achievements of their age group teams across the whole competition.
Scoring System
U14-16 Winner Runner-Up Losing Semi-Finalist Losing Quarter-Finalist

Cup 16 15 13 9

Shield 8 7 5 –

Plate 4 3 1 –

U14-16	Winner	Runner-Up	Losing Semi-Finalist	Losing Quarter-Finalist
Cup	16	15	13	9
Shield	8	7	5	–
Plate	4	3	1	–

U13	Pool 1	Pool 2	Pool 3	Pool 4
Waterfall tournament	1st place – 12	1st place – 9	1st place – 6	1st place – 3
	2nd place – 11	2nd place – 8	2ns place – 5	2nd place – 2
	3rd place – 10	3rd place – 7	3rd place – 4	3rd place – 1