The Heineken Kinsale Sevens by the Sea, set for the May Bank Holiday weekend, will again feature the best of open running rugby, five star hospitality and star guests from the entertainment and sporting arenas - against a backdrop of maritime scenery and historic importance.
The most recent Sevens attracted over 80 teams from countries such as USA, England, France, New Zealand, Germany, Australia, Wales, Fiji and of course Ireland, attracting the largest crowds to the event to date.
Rated as the premier Rugby Sevens Festival in Ireland, the tournament is popular with players and spectators alike and the town is gearing up for a unique 'Mardi Gras' experience.
Kinsale, billed as Ireland's culinary capital, is one of the top tourist towns in Ireland with over 50 quality bars and restaurants. It is easily accessible by air, sea and road with Cork airport only 15 minutes from the town. As well as a feast of rugby the event boasts a full weekend of entertainment, with star guests, top class music, and one of Ireland's best corporate hospitality facilities.
The format includes Senior and Junior Men's, and Women's competitions and for 2009, Heineken has boosted the prize fund in excess of €22,000,
Heineken is a major force in world rugby with a sponsorship portfolio that includes, the European Cup - regarded as the premier club rugby competition in Europe - the Hong Kong Sevens and the Dubai Sevens.
Heineken Kinsale Rugby Sevens by the Sea Rugby Tournament is now established as the biggest Rugby Sevens in Europe. Over eighty teams took part in competitive matches with a total of ca. 6,500 participants over the weekend in 2008. The international dimension to the weekend is superb - participating clubs came from ten different countries:
Canada, Dubai, England, Fiji, France, Ireland,
New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, USA and Wales.
Get your entries in early to ensure your full participation in this prestigious event.
An unbeatable weekend of competition and entertainment
"Rugby football is a game suitable only for those who understand and appreciate the 'Spirit of the game'. By this is meant that you must strive to keep fit and play your hardest to win; that you must take the referee's decisions, however unjust they may seem, without any show of resentment whatever; that you must never take advantage of the referee by cheating; that you must never bear a grudge against an opponent for hard knocks fairly given, for the game is a hard one; and above all that you will accept defeat with good grace.
If you do not intend to play according to the spirit of the game, you are wasting your time because there is no place in rugby football for you."
Greennwood, 1939