While other sevens tournaments are keen to boast that they are the best this and the best next, we're just simply happy to be staging
the UK's most northerly sevens tournaments. The fact that we have players coming back year after year is all the testament we need that
a great weekend is in store! This year is the 20th sevens tournament to be organised by Shetland RFC and you can find out more by reading
below:
BP & SULLOM VOE CONTINUE SPONSORSHIP
Neil McCracken Sullom Voe Terminal Site manager, of BP, " We are delighted to be continuing
our sponsorship from last year as main sponsors to the 2005 Shetland Mid Summer Rugby Sevens Event.
This event continues to attract many teams from outside Shetland with this year showing an increase in teams in the men, women and
junior Tournaments.
The Mid Summer Rugby Sevens will be a great advert in encouraging the growth of rugby as a sport in Shetland and I am delighted to
see the Shetland Team remaining in the National Rugby league. I am sure the weekend's events will be a great success and I wish all
the teams well."
DRAW FOR MEN'S TOURNAMENT MADE
Group A: Greenock Wanderers, Montrose Mermaids, Shetland Barbarians
Group B: Aberdeen Wanderers, Shetland Colts, Lerwick Spurs
Group C: Shetland, Ross Sutherland, IIC Raiders
Group D: Montrose, RAF Saxa Vord, Sullom Voe Terminators
The winners of each group will qualify for the knockout stages of the Shetland Times Cup, second place team will go into the STO Plate,
while losers will go into the 125 Shield. The losing shield semi-finalists will compete in an additional game for the dishonourable
wooden spoon.
LADIES TOURNAMENT
Shetland Ladies will take on St Andrews University Ladies in a 10s fixture shortly after the final men's fixture has been played on
the Saturday. On the Sunday there will be a 3 team round robin sevens tournament featuring Shetland Ladies, St Andrews University and
Northern Isles Belles. The winners will walk away with the Sullom Voe Shield. Northern Isles Belles include 3 lasses from Orkney as well
as local players. Please note that the ladies' tournament meal will now be held on the Saturday.
PIPING UP THE MUSIC
In addition to Love Shack playing live in our music tent on Sunday, we're also delighted to advise that Lerwick Pipe Band will be
performing live at midday on Saturday in the parking area (please note that there will be no cars allowed beyond the campsite entrance
and the road will be blocked off accordingly).
LCC WEIGH IN WITH TENT ASSISTANCE
We're delighted to announce that Lerwick Community Council have offered financial assistance to the tune of £500 towards the running
costs of our newly acquired marquee. In addition to being used at the sevens it's our inention to hire out the marquee to other
community groups, with our first booking being on 29 June when it will be used at Pier Pressure on Victoria Pier.
FRIDAY TOUCH TOURNAMENT
Due to the large number of visiting players who are arriving early, we have decided to cancel the scheduled XVs fixture that was originally programmed. Instead the BBQ and beer tent will open at 6pm and an informal mixed (mixed teams and mixed sexes) touch tournament will be held from 6.30pm probably until around 8pm. From 9pm onwards Shetland RFC will be hosting a pub tour of Lerwick.
LIONS ROAR ON BIG SCREEN
In association with our friends at the tournament venue, we've organised a big screen for live coverage of Otago v British Lions. The centre opens for business at 0800 - light breakfasts, teas and coffees will be available (fry up merchants will need to dine on the ferry or at another hostelry in Lerwick). The game kicks off 0810 and should be all over in time for team registration at 1000.
WHERE'S YOUR HEAD AT?
This season has already seen the TV cameras pay Shetland RFC two visits, once for our debut in the BT Cup and once as part of the rugby extremes series on Rugby Special. The cameras are coming back again on Saturday 18 June to undertake humourous interviews with spectators and players at this year's tournament. Interviews deemed amusing enough will be aired on a future show entitled "Where's Your Head At?". The team from Grampian TV will be around from 11am until 3pm so you might want to take advantage of the beer tent when it opens at 11am!
GLADIATORS AT THE MID-SUMMER SEVENS
Rather than the usual survivor's match, we're having a team survivor's event with a difference. Prizes are being donated by our friends at the North Star. We can't give you any more details than this, but trust us you wont want to miss it!
LOVE SHACK LIVE IN THE LOVE SHACK
If the Ladies' Tournament, Junior Tournaments, BBQ, Beer Tent and Gladiators is not enough for you then head for our newly acquired tent (courtesy of Lerwick Community Council) where Love Shack will be performing live from 2pm. If this proves popular we hope to expand the line up in future years.
Click here to download the provisional programme of events here. If you have any queries then you can send an e-mail
here.
