CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT | REVIEW 1999


Sunshine and Stars at
HEINEKEN
Kinsale Sevens By The Sea

1999 Winners Weka (NZ) receiving their cheque from HEINEKEN

The Heineken Kinsale Sevens by The Sea enjoyed a bumper crowd as thousands of fans flocked to Kinsale RFC over the May Bank holiday weekend to enjoy a feast of exciting sevens rugby featuring a selection of Irish and international teams on show in the glorious sunshine. It proved to be a good year for New Zealand at Kinsale as the Wekas team beat defending Mens Senior champions Waterpark in the final to pick up the title for 1999 along with prize money of £4,500.

MICHAEL LYNAGH
The guest of honour at the event on Sunday was rugby legend Michael Lynagh - who Irish fans will remember so well - and the Queenslander was highly impressed on his first visit to Kinsale. "I had heard nothing but good reports about the Heineken Kinsale Sevens and it's great to finally make it over as the place is so beautiful. The glorious sunshine, the crowds enjoying themselves and some excellent rugby -

Michael Lynagh & Damien Hopley

it's proved a really great mix for a weekend to remember here in Kinsale". He said. Michael entertained guests with a speech at the clubhouse as part of an exclusive corporate hospitality package specially arranged by Kinsale RFC.

Damien Hopley
English international Damien Hopley was the guest of honour at the event on Saturday and he also attended on Sunday as he got a chance to enjoy some great rugby. "I was really impressed with the rugby on show and the South Sea Drifters caught my eye. They were my tip to win the title but at least they were only knocked out in the semis by eventual winners " he said.

Over fifty sides took part in this year's competition over the weekend, which included the Senior Men's, Junior Men's and Senior Ladies categories. There was some great junior rugby on show as Carrigaline/Cork Con. beat Crosshaven in the Men's Junior Plate (25-10) and Clonakilty beat the Stoned Pups (UK) (45-12) in the Men's junior cup final. In the Ladies Senior final Blackrock beat Highfield (17-12).

The defending Heineken Kinsale Senior Men's Champions Waterpark had a tough task as the other teams battling it out for the title included Irish sides, Blackrock, Dolphin, and St. Mary's College along with international teams including Midleton Kiwis, Royal Veterinary College of England and the South Sea Drifters all the way from Fiji. Waterpark proved to be up to the challenge as they beat Anglo Irish (featuring Irish international Shane Horgan) 17-12 in the

Waterpark (IRL) in action against Wekas (NZ)

semi-final and the New Zealand side Wekas caused an upset beating the hotly tipped South Sea Drifters 12-10 in the other semi-final. Wekas went on to eventually beat Waterpark 34-19 in the final in a match that kept the crowds entertained to claim the 1999 Heineken Kinsale Sevens by The Sea title.

The total prize fund for the event was £10,500 as the sevens has moved from strength to strength over the past few years. Another innovative move meant over six other countries from around the world tuned in to enjoy the exciting rugby on show at CSI TV provided

South Sea Drifters (Fiji)

excellent highlights coverage. The Heineken Kinsale Sevens received another further boost this year as it saw the leading sports clothing company Canterbury come on board as a sponsor and produce a signature range of clothes for the event. The special limited edition which was on sale over the weekend includes rugby shirts, fleece jackets, polo shirts, T-shirts and caps. Canterbury are the official clothing supplier to the All-Blacks and it's proved to be a real coup for Kinsale RFC as this is the brand's first ever rugby event sponsorship in Ireland.

A high level of attention for the tournament, now in its 12th year, is also guaranteed in the coming years through the millennium and the 2,001 celebrations of the 1601 Battle of Kinsale - one of the defining battles of Irish history. Indeed the Kinsale RFC committee is already busy putting major plans in place to celebrate both milestones.

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