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Friday 15 May 2009 (Holland Times & UR7s) Robin Heymann In the diaries of rugby 7s aficionados all over Europe, has firmly become a ‘must’, now competing with heavyweights on the circuit such as Dubai and Hong Kong. For non-7s devotees out there this might seem rather strange &ndash rugby and The Netherlands might perhaps not always seem to go hand in hand… But that’s where Sevens comes in to surprise you once again. For 39 years Amsterdam has carved a reputation as one of the premier elite tournaments in the business and certainly the most prestigious in Continental Europe. It has been a perennial highlight on the rugby calendar since 1972, when the AAC Rugby Club organised its first tournament. Once again the best of the best in the invitational 7s game will be in residence at Sportpark de Eendrach over the weekend. Since 2005, the mighty have seemingly monaplised the major crown jewels in the Netherlands. With Terry Sands consistently bringing a talented squad, indeed last year’s side effectively a shadow South African team preparing for Twickenham. So who can break their stranglehold Oh and the supposedly ‘retired’ Waisale Serevi is over with Mels Exiles again &ndash I’ve heard he is pretty malleable in being persuaded to get on the paddock to play some minutes.
Other European sides on show in the ‘dam are German challengers Bavarian Lions, Italians URC Roma and the Belgium and Ukraine National Sides – plus national champions from Russia, Czech Republic and Moldova.