Some trophies are just silverware. This one is a piece of the town.
The Rugby Advertiser Cup was first played for in 1950, and the money it raised went towards the "Sportsman's Bed" at Rugby St Cross Hospital — a hospital bed funded by the town's sportspeople, for the town's sportspeople. It became the premier sevens prize in Rugby & District, and it was contested until 1990.
Then it stopped, and for thirty-six years nobody played for it.
Brought back for 2026
Following discussions between Rugby St Andrews RFC, Hamplified and Rugby & District RFU, the cup returned this summer as the premier local sevens trophy — attached to the Matt Hampson 7s, in the town it was named after. Eight teams entered. Kick-off was 09:30 on Saturday 18 July.
TR7 won it, five games out of five.
Read the full story
There is far more to this than fits in a news post — the 1950 report from the Rugby Advertiser itself, a photograph of a winning side with the same trophy in 1966–67, and a roll of honour with forty years of gaps in it that we would very much like to fill.
The Rugby Advertiser Cup — 1950 to 2026 →
If you played in this tournament, or your club won it, we want to hear from you.