Richmond to host charity extravaganza (From Croydon Guardian)

Richmond to host charity extravaganza

12:29pm Thursday 3rd September 2009 in Rugby Union

The RCUK Charity 7s tournament is coming to Richmond on Thursday.

The event brings business and rugby together for a day of contact sevens and mixed touch rugby at the Athletic Ground.

Beginning at 10.30am, the tournament will see leading names in international and Guinness Premiership rugby, such as James Haskell, Nick Easter, Lee Mears and Joe Worsley, be on hand to lend their coaching expertise to teams from city big hitters such as BP, Tullett Prebon, Reed Smith, ICAP and Tradition.

Now in its second year, RCUK Charity 7s was founded by James Haskell, of England, Stade Francais and Wasps fame, to use rugby to raise money for good causes.

This year’s charity is Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

Demelza provides care for over 570 children each year with life-limiting illnesses in South East London, Kent and East Sussex. Organisers aim to exceed the fundraising effort of 2008 when over £100,000 was raised.

A top line up of leading names in international and Guinness Premiership rugby. James Haskell, Nick Easter, Lee Mears and Joe Worsley and others will all be on hand to lend their coaching expertise to teams from city big hitters such as BP, Tullett Prebon, Reed Smith, ICAP and Tradition.

Ian Robertson, BBC Rugby Correspondent and former Scottish international will provide live commentary for the semi-finals and finals of the Contact Sevens Competition.

England and Stade Francais player Haskell said: “This year the tournament is set to be hugely competitive. Touch, in particular, is the fastest growing area of rugby and is used by top level teams like the All Blacks as an intrinsic part of their training. I think sometimes rugby tournaments can be a little too male orientated and the touch rugby element is going to give the women a chance to show up the men they work with”

James Hanaway, Director of Fundraising at Demelza said: “We are so grateful to RCUK and Trafigura for their support. During these difficult economic times, Demelza is relying on the generosity of others now more than ever so that we can continue our important work caring for children with life-limiting diseases”.

The main sponsor is Trafigura, one of the largest independent companies trading commodities today. Trafigura’s continuing commitment to RCUK Charity Sevens follows their recent sponsorship of the British and Irish Lions and the Canadian national side. Andy Summers, head of fuel oil at Trafigura, said: “The event was a real achievement last year, raising over £100k for Demelza Hospice Care for Children. We aim to do better this year and at the same time really 'fix' this event in the rugby and corporate calendars, as a premier annual charity event.”

The corporate sevens event was set up by James Haskell, England, Stade Francais and former Wasps flanker. RCUK Charity Sevens brings the worlds of rugby and business together for a fantastic day of contact sevens and mixed touch rugby, all in aid of charity.

Demelza is the only children’s residential hospice in Kent, East Sussex and South London providing a wide range of services to life-limited children.