This was my first sevens tournament of 2009, a small (10 teams) get together of high school sides in connecticut and western Massachusetts.I just purchased a new car (kia soul) before this tournament, so I was eager to take it on a nice drive, and the drive through the Connecticut countryside to historic Simsbury Connecticut (Just west of Hartford), did the trick. (insert pic of kia soul).
I really enjoyed the tournament despite being staffed by only 3 referees: myself, another young guy, and an older fella. The older fella, whom I will not name, decided Sam and I were young, so after he did one game, he resigned the refereeing duties to sam and I, two on, two off….all day long. “Older Fella” enjoyed his Gatorades and the shade, chatting with the area old boys…but sam and I did not complain, we were having fun out there. In all, Sam and I refereed 8 games or so a piece.
The most interesting point of the day was the final, which I was refereeing. I believe it was between the home town boys (Simsbury High) and Cheshire rams. It was a very tight game but late in the first half an incident from earlier in the day wreaked havoc on the game. One of the players had a concussion earlier in the day, and either did no realize it or did not report it. Of no matter, in forming a line out, the player collapsed and began having a seizure/convulsing on the field. It was a scary site and brought to my mind memories of the Longwood incident in VA, where a player did not report a concussion and collapsed after a game…dying two weeks later.
It took sometime for the ambulance to arrive (EMTs were available immediately), but delayed the game substantially. The executive decision was made by the organizers, after such a scary incident, to end the final early with Simsbury in the lead. I am not sure what the organizers decided, but I don’t think a winner was declared.
Beyond the final, this was a great day of rugby, and I hope to find myself there again in the coming seasons.
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