Sandy Park to host European 7s

Sandy Park, home to the Exeter Chiefs, has today been confirmed as the venue for the third leg of Rugby Europe’s 2015 Grand PRIX 7s series.

Following the Manchester leg of the 2014 series, the Rugby Football Union is again hosting the final stage of the competition, run by Rugby Europe, over the weekend of July 11-12 2015.

England won the Manchester leg of the tournament in September 2014, which took place at AJ Bell Stadium, beating France in the final of the Cup competition.

With Olympic qualification on the line, the weekend promises to be an important competition for the seven-a-side game. Should England fall outside the top four of the HSBC World Seven Series, they will need to win the Grand PRIX 7s series - or the Final Olympic Qualification Tournament - in order to compete in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Joining home unions England, Scotland and Wales in the Grand PRIX 7s series, which kicks-off in Moscow on June 6, are Russia, Spain, Belgium, Georgia, Portugal, Germany, Italy and Lithuania.

After the second leg of the tournament in Lyon on June 13, the Sevens series will travel to the UK and to Sandy Park

A 2015 Rugby World Cup venue, Sandy Park is ideally placed amongst a hot bed of rugby in the South West, creating an ideal opportunity for supporters from around the region, and further afield, to enjoy some international rugby ahead of the World Cup kick-off.

Speaking about the fixture, Exeter Chiefs Chief Executive, Tony Rowe OBE, said: “As a club we are delighted to have been selected to host the third leg of Rugby Europe’s 2015 Grand PRIX 7s series.

“Sandy Park has in the past already staged a number of international matches, as well as a major Cup final, and later this year we will play host to three Rugby World Cup fixtures.

“We feel the upcoming Series will act as the perfect curtain raiser to what is a big year ahead for everyone connected to the Chiefs and Sandy Park, especially as we prepare to welcome global rugby to the Westcountry.”

Commenting on the announcement, the Rugby Football Union’s Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer Sophie Goldschmidt added: “We are delighted to be hosting our second Rugby Europe Sevens competition after the inaugural UK leg in Manchester last September.

“Sandy Park offers a prime location and a hotbed of rugby support in the South West, as evident by its hosting of the 2015 Rugby World Cup later on in the year. Our thanks go to Rugby Europe for inviting the Rugby Football Union to host for a second time, and to Exeter Chiefs for agreeing to stage the weekend at its state-of-the-art stadium.“

The Rugby Europe Seven at Sandy Park, catch them if you can! July 11 & 12 2015.

Ticket details to follow.

Moscow, June 6-7

Lyon, June 13-14

Exeter, July 11-12