Ripon’s first ever rugby sevens tournament to be held

by Robert Caulfield

| 18 Jul, 2025

Sam Stoddart (back row, three from left) with other members at the Ripon Rugby Club at last year's Knaresborough sevens event.

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Ripon Rugby Club will host its first ever rugby sevens tournament this Saturday (July 19).

Around 500 people are expected to be in attendance at Mallorie Park.

Rugby sevens is a much faster-paced form of rugby union. Smaller seven-a-side teams play intense 15-minute matches.

It is held in a tournament format across a single day. Matches are designed to be high-octane with lots of action.

The club follows in the footsteps of Knaresborough RUFC, who hosted a tournament last year. Ripon’s team won the tournament.

Sixteen men’s teams and eight women’s teams will compete across the day. Teams have entered from as far as Scotland and Norfolk.

The first fixture will kick off at 10am, with the club gates opening half an hour prior.

Forty-five matches will be played overall. Each will take place every 25 minutes, simultaneously across the club’s three pitches.

Six semi-finals will be played across the three pitches, the first three starting at 3.30pm and the second three starting at 3.55pm.

Three finals will then be played - the women's final, the men's plate final and the men's cup final. They will take place every 25 minutes, the first one starting at 4.30pm. The tournament ends at 5.45pm.

Trophy presentations will start at 6pm. One of the trophies will be named the Champions Cup, in honour of the late Ripon Rugby Club legend, Bob Champion.

There will be plenty of entertainment available for spectators, including a beer tent and a marquee with a DJ.

The British and Irish Lions’ fixture against Australia will also be shown on a seven-by-four-metre outdoor television screen.

The event finishes at 9pm. The Black Swan pub will then host an afterparty.

Event organiser and club steward, Sam Stoddart, said:

The idea came off the back of us winning the Knaresborough sevens tournament. Demand has been incredible – we’ve got teams coming from Scotland and Norfolk.

We’re doing it in the hopes of people becoming more aware off Ripon Rugby Club. We’ve had so many positives in the last year, like just building our new Tim Ray stand, and want to keep that momentum going.

I’d like to thank Bronco for marketing the event for us.