Women take charge at sevens

Rugby Union

"Sorry, sir," will no longer be the automatic response by boys when they are ticked off by match officials at next week's Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens, writes Paul Trow.

The annual event has appointed policewoman Sarah Mallalieu and students Clare Saville and Siobhan Matthews to take charge of several matches during its 58th staging, from 18 to 21 March.

The three woman (Mallalieu will act as a referee while the other two will be touch judges) are to team up with the England international referee, Ed Morrison, for at least two of the finals.

This year's tournament will feature a new competition, the Derek Tanner Memorial Trophy for Under-16 colts, named after the man who ran the sevens for more than 30 years and who died last November, aged 83.