2009

2009 saw the festival double in size with 132 rugby teams, 88 netball teams and 20,000 people attending.

The introduction of the National Netball Festival was a huge success with over 1,500 netballers enjoying the weekend.

In only its second year the Bournemouth Sevens Festival became the largest festival of its kind in the world! 

More and more celebrities were in attendance including-

Austin Healey (BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing), Lewis Moody, Geordan Murphy, Will Carling, Olly Barkley, Kyran Bracken, Darren Anderton, Steffon Armitage, Delon Armitage, David Strettle, Mark Regan, Leon Lloyd, Zac Fenuati, Sailosi Tagicakibau and Junior Parramore.

Gladiator Ice presented the video footage over the weekend.

2008

The inaugural Bournemouth Sevens Festival was born in 2008.

Roger Woodall, Festival Director and a former rugby player, realised there was a unique opportunity to create a 2 day festival on par with world re-known tournaments such as Dubai, Hong Kong, Wellington and Amsterdam.

With 96 rugby teams the festival became the largest festival of its kind in Europe...not bad for its first year. 

Team entries sold out 3 months before the festival.

England World Cup winners & players including Lewis Moody, Austin Healey, Olly Barkley & Ben Foden all attended the festival. 

The National Invitation Cup was won by Stash All Stars who had England players Delon and Steffan Armitage, Marcel Garvey and Samoan 7s International Sailosi Tagicakibau helping them lift the silverware.

12,000 people attended in our first year.