Beach rugby a big success

Sunday 17 July 2016

Forget buckets and spades, it was more balls and scrums on St Brelade Bay beach yesterday.

The sands were transformed into rugby heaven yesterday for the seventh Annual Jersey International Beach Rugby Tournament.

Over 200 men, women and children egg chasers took over the beach for six hours as the sands were the venue for four competitions – children’s, full contact men’s, touch men’s and touch mixed.

Alfie Bhoys, pictured above, beat Trafalgar Pirates in the full contact men’s final, while State beat RBC wealth management in the men’s touch final.

The mixed touch final saw BNP get the better of the Ball Grabbers and Kevin Lemasney, chairman of Jersey Rugby Association said it was one of the best tournaments in its seven-year history.

“It was brilliant,” he said. “We really got lucky with the weather and it was a superb tournament – one of the best we’ve had. Unfortunately, we had one serious injury as a player was taken to hospital after suffering a dislocated hip, but that aside, it was a really enjoyable day. The players all got into the spirit and although there will be a few bruises in the morning, it was great fun.

“We want to make it even bigger next year. We had 17 teams across the whole tournament, plus about 50 kids, but next year we really want to get even bigger numbers.

“We had a very enthusiastic crowd and everyone I spoke to had a fantastic day.”    

Proceeds from the event went to Holidays for Heroes, Jersey Women's Refuge and BeachAbility.