Welcome to Lardies Online
Home of the Leeds Lardies "Fat Bloke Sevens" rugby team
Welcome to Lardies Online
Home of the Leeds Lardies "Fat Bloke Sevens" rugby team
The Fat Blokes Sevens is an annual charity event organised by fans of London Irish that brings joy and harmony (not to mention hangovers, bruises, concussion, hangovers, minor injuries, did I mention the hangovers?) to many foolish unfit, untalented, overweight and generally past-it, no-hoper rugby players from all over the country.
The tournament takes place at Abbey Rugby Club in Reading and will be held on the 17th/18th/19th July 2009.
The best route from the North is to come off at J15A of the M1, then on past Silverstone to the M40. From there, leave at J6 and drive to Watlington, then Nettlebed. Turn left then right at the mini roundabout towards Reading on the B481. The rugby ground is on the right as you drive south, just before Emmer Green and after Sonning Common.
Google Maps
It should take about 3-4 hours to drive from Leeds, but it is the first evening of the kids' summer holiday, so traffic may be bad.
Although the tournament is designed to be fun, we do get injuries each year. We cannot recommend enough the need for individual players to get insurance cover for the event. In previous years, individual insurance has been obtained from Sports Cover Direct
We have fantastic provision on the day provided by Mike Mulroy from the Drunken Wasps crew. Despite us giving Mike’s team a sum of money to cover the costs on the day, we always have a shortfall. I’ve recommended to Mike that he have a bucket near the first aid point that players may want to throw shrapnel into to help cover the costs this year. Mike was snowed under last year and didn't look to be enjoying the tournament much, so if you are qualified to help, please lend a hand.
Once again the fabulous lads from Berkshire Referees Society will be providing the bulk of officials for the day. We will welcome any qualified referees who want to take part. We’re hoping Ashley Rowden, a great friend of the tournament, will come along and take on a few games again this year.
Reading Abbey RFC don’t charge us for the use of their facilities. We respectfully ask again that no alcoholic drinks are brought to the tournament and consumed whilst the bar is open. Also, we would ask that no BBQ’s are used during the weekend, including disposable BBQ’s. These have been risk assessed and are a fire hazard as there are a lot of people who have been drinking at the event. Please – no BBQ’s. There is plenty of food available at the event.
This is becoming more and more popular each year, and there is a small charge this year. Please let Tim know if you plan to camp. Those of you with caravans or motor homes – please let Abbey know in advance that you’re coming and they will leave space for you in a safe (for fire hazard reasons) area on the side of the main camping village. Camping is available from Friday afternoon through until Sunday noon’ish.
Make sure you bring an inflatable mattress - the ground can be hard - but be aware that you won't spend much time in your tent.
Once again we will have a fantastic band on the Saturday night. There will be live music on the Friday night as well. A disco happens on both evenings and rest assured that the Craic will be brilliant again this year.
We will have a full tournament for ladies teams this year. The showers will be available exclusively for the Ladies teams from 17:30 – 18:30. Tickets are not available.
Cash - this is a charity event (with a bar!);
Light wet weather gear;
Wellies (waders?) for the overnight loos;
Food if you are a veggie (though there should be plenty of long grass around);
A sense of humour (especially if you are a veggie);
A tent;
A sleeping bag;
A camp bed / mattress (remember: grass may look comfortable at 4am, but it isn't at 9am);
Lots of water;
A hat;
Sun cream; and (most importantly)
A stern constitution.
I'd also recommend wet wipes and toilet paper (for those little emergencies...)
Camping is available from Friday afternoon. For those who’ve not been before – I can’t recommend it enough. The party on Friday night is great fun, and starts as the bar opens in the evening, and you’ll be there 1st thing on Saturday for the rugby – you’ll have a hangover, but you’ll be there. One word of warning: the event is family friendly, but the nights get a bit rowdy and you may want to park the kids at the grandparents if camping overnight.
Saturday:
09:00 Team registration
09:30 Safety briefing (all players must attend)
10:00 1st games begin
15:00 Last of Pool games begin
15:30 Ladies semi-finals
16:00 Cup and Shield semi-finals
16:30 Plate (the ‘Arse’) semi finals
17:00 Ladies Final
17:30 Cup Final
18:00 Shield Final
18:30 Plate (the ‘Arse’) Final
19:00 Presentations
20:00 Party
The following charities will be supported in 2009:
Help for Heroes
The Wooden Spoon Society
On the Sunday, there will be a full 15-a-side game between the Fairy Barbarians and the Bristol Buccaneers. The Fairy Baba’s players wear their own club shirts so are a huge mismatch of colours. This match is to raise funds for P.R.O.P.S.
All players are welcome to take part and play for the Fairy Baba’s for a match fee donation to the charity. Our great friend, Ashley Rowden, will be there to try and keep some order as referee although some of his decisions in previous years were very dubious (tries disallowed for a, being run in too fast and b, the try scorer had failed to apply Grecian 2000 correctly).