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CLAPTON PREPARE FOR 140TH. SEASON IN FRANCE

CLAPTON PREPARE FOR 140TH. SEASON IN FRANCE

Danny Elmer18 Jun 2019 - 15:45
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Epping Upper Clapton RFC has commenced the preliminaries to their 140th.

CLAPTON PREPARE FOR 140TH. SEASON IN FRANCE
Epping Upper Clapton RFC has commenced the preliminaries to their 140th. Season on the outskirts of Paris with their recent participation in a Rugby Sevens tournament. In 1911 the then Upper Clapton Football Club played against Stade Francais RF; a club whom today now compete in the upper echelons of the French Top 14 competition. The two clubs have renewed links with the intention of creating a series of reciprocal fixtures. This then was the basis for an invitation to EUCRFC to the prestigious Le Tournoi 7 de Coeur Sevens Tournament, held over the last week-end in Versailles. It attracted the cream of the professional French 7’s circuit, 2 teams representing the Chinese National team and EUCRFC as their other overseas guest.
After a slow start Clapton registered their first victory in game 3 which progressed them to the top 8 competition where they eventually finished 7th. of 16 losing out finally to one of the Chinese representative sides. Whilst fun and camaraderie were pre-requisites of the trip, this was a very creditable performance. The eventual winners were ‘7 Fantastics’ a nomadic collection of French sevens exponents who defeated the Stade Francais outfit ‘Seventise’ in the final. EUCRFC had played both previously in the competition and competed well against them in the process.
A return visit from Stade Francais is now on the cards for next year whilst Clapton aim to return to the Tournoi in 2020 and maybe a Ladies team will be competing too. EUCRFC are investing time and human resources in developing Ladies Rugby, responding to a demand to further expand the opportunities that have been established by girls playing in their junior ranks. Friday 28th.June sees the first practice session when all girls and ladies of all standards will be made most welcome and invited to start their own rugby journeys.
September 2019 sees the Rugby World Cup get underway in Japan and the League programme begin in the London leagues. Preparation for those starts in early July. Clapton will welcome all rugby followers and new converts to join them for the upcoming campaign. Having achieved a convincing promotion in 2018/19, EUCRFC will be confident in doing their utmost in attempting to repeat this feat.
Find us on Facebook or at Eppingucrfc.com for more details of how to join in.
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