Northumbria University M1 Rugby Union are the new BUCS sevens champions following a grueling five match schedule in Leeds.
A last-minute try secured the victory for Northumbria as they ran out 24-19 winners against Loughborough in a fiercely contested final.
“It was a great occasion,” said head coach Darren Fearn. “It was a long day but well worth it in the end to be crowned national sevens champions.
“Overall, our performance was really impressive and our structure, physicality and mental toughness in particular stood out.
“Mentally, to go on and win that final under the circumstances was a real credit to the boys and they showed a tremendous will to win.
“I don’t think it’s something that we had at the start of the season as a programme – I don’t think we really knew how to win and psychologically we weren’t quite there.
“If we had been a man down in a final, three points behind with no time left on the clock, I don’t think we would’ve gone the length to score like we did this week.”
It’s been a promising first season in the BUCS Super League for Northumbria and Fearn believes his team will continue to improve and flourish in years to come.
“It’s a great finish to the season for the lads,” added Fearn. “It’s always nice to win a trophy and it’s obviously a very good one to win.
“The big thing for us now is to take this level of performance into next year and use this victory as a springboard to improve on our sixth place finish this season.
“The way the progression has gone this year, I was already optimistic that we’d get better next year.
“We’re nowhere near the finished article and it’ll take a few years to get to where we want to be but it’s an exciting team and place to be a part of.”
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