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Fat Boy Sevens, Enjoyed By All
By Annie Blackthorn July 22 2008
The ‘off season’ between May and August can be a Saharan wilderness for rugby supporters, and one of many summer events that brighten the long drought between the end of season and ‘Friendlies’ is a 7’s tournament well organized by London Irish Supporters, over a weekend in July.
The object is to celebrate amateur rugby, regardless of ability, age or fitness, and secondly to raise money for charity!  A fluid association of EREites have entered a team every year since it started 4 years ago and this year was no different.  

This camping/drinking/rugby weekend is at Reading Abbey RFC, ideally situated out in country miles from other habitation, somewhere further than Caversham.  Abbey have a good set-up, with four pitches, plenty of room for parking and camping. The distance from habitation avoids any complaints from neighbours about music, or eccentric night-time behaviour. 

Bath Tubs had set-up camp grouped together near Clubhouse and professional ‘facilities’.  Friday evening is for hardened types able to consume large amounts of beer, get very little sleep, arise able to play several games on the trot, and still speak coherently!  Others arrive in good time on Saturday for the official player briefing before the first matches start mid-morning.  

Teams come from most of the Premiership Club Supporters, plus assorted specialist Sevens' teams - some with, for heaven’s sake, Coaches and Physios!!  There are the Army Vets; boy band look-alikes, lycra outfits with tanned legs to match (strictly speaking, not the true elite physique of a genuine Fatboy player); surprisingly good scratch teams made up of people who met in the pub the night before.  Even with a basic grasp of rules, you will get game time, length of which depends on puff power and the strength of your hangover from Friday night’s initiation.  Ages range from semi-professional Sevens' players to admirable 50+ years olds, and the fitness levels are as wide; it is worth noting how some players have bellies to be proud off with stamina to match, but are deceptively nimble on their pins – a fact that younger fitter players find disconcerting, not to say frustrating – handbags usually result!  A Ladies Tournament has been started with similarly assorted shapes and fitness – some of whom were frankly, frightening!  

A genuine ‘rugby family’ event, with camp followers of all ages enthusiastically supporting their teams of players, which can include joining rolling mauls, abusing any team that takes things far too seriously –   to providing quick expert first aid for scraped shins, knees, or concussion headaches!  Surprisingly perhaps, we have an especially good relationship with Bristol and their lady supporters, and were sorry that this year they did not play in the same Group – which after representations to management trust will be rectified next year! 

This year Tubs played Gloucester Orks, (well named), The Drones from Essex, Quins Fatboys, Kaysie Crusaders and a great team from East Grinstead with quartered shirts whose name escapes your correspondent!  Tubs achieved their objective and successfully lost all matches (very narrowly in a couple of instances), thus avoiding playing in the Plate!   A final invitation match takes place on Sunday morning refereed by our old friend Ashley Rowden, who has been seen incapable with laughter over the specialist antics. Bath Tubs comprised old hands Andy R, Gussie, Redneck, Robbinho, Ken jnr, Crippsy and his All Stars, Bath Fan 21 12 with a group of Bath supporting newcomers who joined with enthusiastic gusto!  Rich L, with honourable discharge also came to support.  Several regulars had to miss out, but hope they will be back to take up their boots again next year!     

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