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Hopefully you'll agree that we've captured some great shots of the Pod 7s squad throughout the rugby sevens' season. On top of that our photographer Moz has put together a handful of stop-motion style videos of the team after some winning performances at various games.
Check them out at our YouTube channel. © 2011 by A. Richardson
After reaching the cup final at last year's tournament, the 2011 Rugby Rocks tournament was a welcome return for the Pod squad. Known for its feel good & lively atmosphere, Rugby Rocks organised yet another fantastic event, combining their passion for the game, music and beer - what else could you possibly want? As always the team were in high spirits and claimed the title for the men's open 7s plate. Fantastic result and we look forward to their performance at West Country 7s in two weeks time. © 2011 by A. Richardson
As the rugby sevens tournaments are already in full play, UK Rugby Sevens magazine takes a look at the upcoming events on offer this season and the Pod team feature in quite a few...
"What fantastic day! We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves - right from the friendly welcome we received on the Friday night to when we left exhausted on Saturday evening!" said Angela Rhodes of Crispin Rhodes Crusaders after the 2010 event.
With four hugely successful events behind them and a growing reputation the 2011 Olney 7s promises to be another great rugby day out. This year's event takes place on Saturday 9th July at home of Buckinghamshire based Olney Rugby Club, not far from J14 off the M1.
The main Date-Re open tournament, for up to 20 teams, has a cash prize of £500 to the winning team. Competition for this tournament looks good for 2011 with POD, 2010 winners of the trophy and runners up, Crispin Rhodes Crusaders, both early entrants.
New faces this year include Carmarthen Warriors, Hammer Heads, DB7 and Olney's local rivals Leighton Buzzard RFC. With returning teams including Treforest Titans and Glover's Lovers the players complimentary Olney 7s T'shirts will be seen all over the country after July 9th!
For the first time Olney will have its own team in the tournament. In previous years many of the club 1st XV have played for a number of different teams. This year they have got together to form an Olney 7- so look out for the cerise and French grey shirts, Olney's club colours.
Olney 7s is a superb spectator and family day out. Entrance is free with both tournaments starting with the pool stages from 10.30 in the morning, continuing with all teams entering the knockout stages in the afternoon. Finals and presentations to the winning teams should be complete by 6.30pm. BBQ and food is on sale and the bar is open all day. The social side continues into the night witha live band and hog roast.
After its debut in 2010, Rugby Rocks returns for a full weekend of rugby and music on the 4th and 5th June. Th emusic will be headlined by The Pigeon Detectives on Saturday 4th June, who will be followed on stage by some of the UK's leading DJs.
Tournaments in 2011 range from the social Sevens to Elite level competitions. England's best will be taking on the bestof British club sides as well as Sweden, The Netherlands and the Shamrock Warriors.
The Men's Elite competition - the inaugural Super Sevens - takes place on Saturday 4th June with Esher RFC Kamikaze, The Army, Samurai International, HFW Wailers, White Heart Maurauders and home town favourites Richmond RFC already confirmed entrants. Super Sevens will then roll on to the West Country Sevens and Newquay Surf Sevens to determine an overall winner.
The Men's Open returns with thirty-two teams, including last year's runners up POD Rugby, The Wolfpack Sevens Sevens and Carmarthen Warriors. Festival organisers have now opened a Men's Social Sevens competition for Sunday 5th of June after the Open sold out in early April.
Following a partnership with London Tens Festival Rugby Rocks will also include Tens, Touch rugby and Netball for the first time. According to festival organisers, RugbyRocks has now doubled the number of participants from 850 in 2010 to nearly 2,000 for this June.
Keep up-to-date with Pod Footwear Rugby 7s on Facebook and Twitter
Our group of East-midlands local lads are always honoured when they get the opportunity to play against some of rugby sevens' finest. But they feel especially privileged to be invited to play at Sacha Harding's Testimonial tournament on Friday 27th May.
We admit that Pod may be there purely to make up the numbers, but it's not often you get the chance to compete against such prestigious teams such as the Bedford Blues, Leicester Tigers, White Hart Marauders, Saracens and not forgetting Sacha's All Stars.
The game kicks-off at 6pm at Goldington Road, Bedford, so come on down to support the Pod squad.
Click here for more information about the event.
For those of you who still haven't quite got to grips with the rugby 7s game, here are the basic rules, courtesy of Sacha Harding, who this year celebrates his Testimonial after serving 10 years at the Bedford Blues.
Rules of Rugby Sevens
The rules of Rugby sevens are much the same of those used in the fifteen man rugby union version of the game. The game is regulated by the same authority, the International Rugby Board (IRB), therefore the rules of rugby sevens are very similar and most teams use players that also play the full fifteen aside game.
- The game is played by 7 players on each side. Hence the name sevens. The team consists of three forwards and four backs.
- Games take place between two teams for a total of 7 minutes each way, with a 1 minute half time break.
- In the case of there being a draw at the end of a game, sudden death extra time is played, whereby 5 minute 'halves' are played until one of the teams scores a try, the scorer of that try is then considered the winner of the game.
- The scoring system is the same as the 15 a side game; 5 points for a try, 2 for a conversion and 3 for both penalties and drop goals.
- The difference is that all conversions must be taken within 40 seconds of the try being scored and must be taken as a drop goal rather than a place kick.
- Unlike 15 a side rugby the scoring team kicks off to the opposition, rather than the team that was scored against, allowing teams to get hold of the ball after they have conceded.
- A player receiving a yellow card is sent to the sin bin for a 2 minute interval (counted as time in play, not real time) rather than 10 minutes.
- Scrummage takes place between 3 forwards. These forward bind together and interlock their heads in the same way a front row in the full version of rugby would. The scrum half feeds the ball into the channel between them whilst the hooker (central forward) tries to strike the ball backwards and the two 'props' (outer forwards) push.
- Lineouts also take place between two (sometimes 3) players, with a player from the team who didn't knowck or carry the ball over the touchline (unless kicked from a penalty where the team kicked it out) responsible for throwing the ball back in (usually the hooker)
- Each team is only allowed 5 reserves per game and can only make 3 changes during the course of the game.
These rule changes are brought in to keep the game fast moving and free flowing, which is considered the aim of sevens rugby.
As any fanatic will tell you, there is no shame in asking the crucial question, "Can I have your autograph please?"
So, as well as leaving the Bury St. Edmunds tournament with slightly damaged pride & a knock in confidence, we also came away with a few autographs from the England 7s team.
That's one for the photo albumn!
© 2011 by A. Richardson
Check out the ULR tournament photos at The Pod Gallery
As the squad eased into their warm-up before the first big game of the season against the England team, the initial comment made by one of the boys pretty much summed up the general mood, "Oh, they're big lads".
There's no denying that this particular tournament was going to be tough and any sceptic would say that despite any of Pod's potential best efforts, the result was firmly set in stone before the game had even begun.
Still, after providing the England squad with a warm-up & light entertainment, the game ended on a respectable 49 to 7. And with no cause for damaged pride, the squad walked away with the experience & achievement well and truely under their belts.
Next stop: Rugby Rocks Men's Open 4th June 2011.
Check out the ULR tournament photos at The Pod Gallery © 2011 by A. Richardson
After a friendly warm-up at last Sunday's training session followed by BBQ'd sausages and a couple of pints, the sevens tournaments are drawing closer as they participate in their first game this Sunday at the ULR7s tournament at Bury St. Edmunds.
Without question this will be one of the team's toughest challenge to date, as they'll be in the direct firing line of the full England squad, Dig Deep. Having said that, we remain positive and with a strong team line-up, coach support & promise of a hot bubble bath when they get home, the squad will undoubtedly provide a fearless performance. One not to be missed!
Follow our live commentary of the games on the PodRugby7s Twitter
© 2011 by A. Richardson
The time is nigh and the main event that we've all been waiting for is now here. Adrenaline is running high, muscles are being flexed and lunges are being lunged in preparation for the big day. The XXS kit is currently on a 90 degree 3 hour wash to achieve the best tight-fit results and fake tans are being applied liberally....what our team wants, our team gets.
No, no, no, I'm not talking about the ULR7s tournament against the England 7s team. No, we're not worried about that, I'm talking about none other than the Pod rugby 7s training & BBQ session at the RFC Olney this Sunday.
As well as a good old knockabout with the ball, we'll be filming and photographing the team with their brand new kit for some quality Youtube footage (and possibly some incriminating material). We'll also be hosting a post-training BBQ & beer gathering with Brown's gourmet sausages supplying the protein fix.
All Pod-related players and staff welcome so come on down! © 2011 by A. Richardson
Designed by our very own Pod Squad, the new kit for 2011 in now in and it's fair to say it looks pretty awesome. As requested by the team, we've gone XXS this time around, paying special attention to the shorts...apparently there was a bit too much room to manoeuvre in last year's kit. Let's remember these are family events we're attending. © 2011 by A. Richardson
More photos of the new kit are on the Pod rugby 7s facebook page.
The Pod rugby 7s preparations are well on their way. Tournaments booked, new kit ordered and one hell of a team line-up expected.
Final tournament confirmation for 2011:
May 1st - Olney training session, BBQ & Beer
May 8th - ULR, Bury St. Edmunds
June 4th - RugbyRocks, Richmond
June 18th - West Country 7s, Keynsham
July 9th - Olney 7s
July 30th - Worthing 7s
As the rugby 7s season has now come to an end, the Pod squad finished on an absolute high claiming yet another winning title at the Worthing Rugby 7s tournament.
With their laid-back yet determined attitude towards the game, the squad did what they do best and played a phenomenal game, winning hands down with a final score of 24 to the Casterways' 7.
Ending the rugby 7s' season on a two out of three game win this year ain't bad at all!
A huge thank you to Tim Stanbridge 'Stanners' for making it all happen in the first place. To Brett and Sam Foster 'Fish' for your coaching input, to all 20 players for putting their all into the game and to John for providing the squad's booze for the coach journey home! Also many thanks to Maurizio for providing such high quality photography....fantastic shots and ones for the photo albumn!
Time to hang up those Pod kits until next season!
Photos now available from the Pod Gallery
PS. Thanks Tim for washing the kit...that's dedication. © 2010 by A. Richardson
Following their near-win performance at Rugby Rocks last month the Pod 7s Team faced their next challenge with a clear taste for victory.
Their skill, determination & courage on the pitch lead to a home triumph for POD winning with a final score of 22 to 5.
Spirits high the POD team are ready to take that same winning conviction to the Worthing tournament later this month. © 2010 by A. Richardson
Check out the Pod Gallery for all the POD 7s tournament photos
Rugby most definitely Rocks after the Pod Squad made it to the gruelling men's final on Saturday at the Richmond rugby 7s tounament. There's no doubt that the unknown, new kid on the scene, Pod gave it their all at the Richmond tournament and that same effort, skill and determination lead them to the final against the fearsome Koru Kamikaze.
Download all the Pod 7s action from Rugby Rocks only at the Pod Gallery.
© 2010 by A. Richardson
Pod are proud sponsors of Buckinghamshire, Bedforshire & Northamptonshire - based POD Rugby 7s squad.
The POD Squad will be taking part in the Rugby Rocks, Olney 7s and Worthing 7s 2010 summer tournaments.
Download the Pod tournament photos for free only at the Pod Gallery
Like our facebook page & stay up-to-date with all the Pod Rugby 7s banter. 
The Pod Squad will be wearing the British Heart Foundation logo with pride. Click to donate to the British Heart Foundation
British Bulldog, the controversial 'rough and tumble' tag-game is crashing back into British playgrounds!
POD wants your school to join the British Bulldog rebellion to get your kids active!
Stay tuned for more British Bulldog news...
BRITISH BULLDOG RULES
- One bulldog (or maybe two) stands in the middle of the pitch, with the runners lined up on one side.
- The objectives for the runners are to try to get to the "home" area of the other side of the pitch without being caught. If the bulldog holds a runner for long enough to say "British Bulldog, one, two, three", then that runner becomes a bulldog.
- The runners try to evade two bulldogs running back again. You keep repeating the running back and forwards from side to side until all runners are caught. The last person to get caught is considered the winner.
