EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES SEVENS TOURNAMENT 2008
In July 2008, the second EUSA (European Universities Sport Association) Rugby Sevens Tournament was held in Rome, Italy. Eleven teams from seven different countries (Italy, France, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, England and Wales) competed, with nine men’s teams and just two teams in the women’s competition. Qualification for the event required teams to have won a national sevens tournament. This is only the second time the event has been held and the scope for expansion is massive and the organisers are hoping to attract more participating teams in future years. There was a dynamic and well-orchestrated Opening Ceremony, during which I was invited to read the ‘Referee’s Oath’:
“In the name of all the judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in this Championship with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship.”
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Teams were asked to provide a referee for the tournament, and I was invited by NRURS to accompany the Northumbria University Women’s team. The university very kindly offered to pay for flights, accommodation and meals for the Northumbria group. This was a fantastic opportunity to gain some refereeing experience in a foreign country, officiating over players who do not all speak English and discovering new ways to communicate commands to them. The co-ordinator for the referees was Giulio de Santis (one of Italy’s IRB recognised international referees), and it was great to meet such a distinguished referee and get some tips and advice from him.
The event was played as a round robin, with all nine men’s teams playing each other in the group stage with a view to qualifying for a cup and a plate competition. The organisers decided to play a ‘best of three’ between the women’s teams (which Northumbria eventually won 2-1). This resulted in a total tally of 54 games spread over the four days, meaning a busy schedule for the seven referees, who were asked to provide a team-of-three for every game. It was hard work, in temperatures well over 30oC, with high quality, fast rugby being played by many of the sides. After some fascinating contests in the early stages, the two British teams, UWIC (reigning champions) and Leeds, had established themselves as favourites. However, the cup semi-finals saw an upset, as Leeds were knocked out by Limoges, leaving the French side to face UWIC in the final.
Officials for the final and semi-finals were chosen by Giulio de Santis, based on previous performances, and I was both surprised and thrilled to be asked to referee the final of the main competition ahead of several more experienced referees. The final itself provided another unexpected result, with the French side finishing as 31-26 winners after an eventful game, including my decision to award a late penalty try to UWIC for failure of the French defenders to retreat from a quickly taken penalty 5m from the line.
It was a great conclusion to a very exciting and well-organised tournament, and an invaluable experience for me at the end of my first season as a referee. I would like to thank NRURS for inviting me to accompany the Northumbria side, and Northumbria University itself for financing the trip. Next year the competition will be held in the UK, so we must hope one of the Newcastle based sides can qualify again!
Richard Bentley
RFU.com 
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