Beach rugby tournament is a hit at West Wittering

Now in its sixth year, this annual event continues to grow and attract teams from all over the south.

This year saw new entrants from Medway Ladies, Farnborough RFC and Southsea, along with the regular attendees like Staines Mucky Ducks, Life’s a Beach and Hardly Athletic.

The festival organisers were also delighted to have two entries from the charities the proceeds go to - namely the Wooden Spoon rugby charity and St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

See our gallery from the event here

Bob Roger, chairman of the Sussex Wooden Spoon Society, watched the whole event and presented the trophy to the winners.

The event provides the opportunity for teams of seven to play touch rugby on the beautiful West Wittering beach, with many teams taking the opportunity to wear fancy dress, with this year seeing pirates, all-bearded teams and Marcel Marceau impersonators among the ranks.

The event allows for mixed teams, young and old, to play against each other - and many of the adult teams came unstuck when playing some of the junior teams.

The 32 teams play in eight pools with the top two teams at the end of the pool progressing on to the cup and the bottom two contesting the plate.

Conditions were not ideal with many attendees being sand-blasted by on-shore wind whipping up the sand.

Teams who went on to contest the cup were Doctore, Rolls Royce Gryffons, Dons, Southsea Nomads, Mymms, Royals 1, Life’s a Beach,

Silent but Deadly, Crixus, Midhurst Seniors, Royals Royce Merlins, Ashton’s Angels, Spartacus, Blue Beard, Wooden Spoon and Hardly Athletic.

Contesting the plate were Ballards Best, Midhurst Juniors, CRFC U12, St Wilfrid’s Hospice, White Beard, Old Men of the Gower, Argon, 3 Pound a Pound of Nannas, On the J, Avengers, Muckey Ducks, Red Beard, Cowboys, Britannia, Royals 2 and RAMS

The plate was won by Whitebeard, a junior team from Crawley RFC, who beat Royals 2 in the final. The cup went to Spartacus, a team from Worthing RFC, who beat Life’s a Beach from Chichester RFC.

Chichester RFC thanked all the volunteers and refereess who gave up their time to make the event possible, and the West Wittering Estate for allowing the beach to be used.

Another event is planned next year.