2025 saw the introduction of women’s 5-a-side football, to go alongside the men’s football, mixed tag, netball, and men’s rugby 7s. The five tournaments kicked off in glorious sunshine at the extensive grounds of Richmond Athletic Association.
Women’s Football
Eight teams entered the inaugural women’s 5-a-side football tournament. Fieldfisher beat Cleary Gottleib Steen & Hamilton in a closely fought Plate final, coming out victorious 1-0.
Dentons, unbeaten all tournament, won the Cup, beating Clyde & Co 2-1 in a match which saw some great attacking and defending from both teams.
Men’s Football
Despite several late dropouts in the week leading up to the tournament, twenty-four teams took to the pitches to battle it out for the Cup. Mishcon de Reya (2) beat Skadden in the final of the Bowl winning 2-1, making amends for their loss in the same final last year.
Norton Rose Fulbright narrowly beat Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang (2) 1-0 in the final of the Plate, with Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang (1) making up for their second team’s loss by retaining the Cup - beating Squire Patton Boggs 2-0 in the final.
Mixed Tag
Another packed tournament saw Eversheds Sutherland beating new entrants the City of London Solicitors Company 9-2 in the final of the Bowl. A slight drop from their victory in the Plate the previous two seasons but vowing to come back for more silverware in 2026.
The Law Society RFC beat Barclays Legal 6-4 in a closely fought Plate final with Norton Rose Fulbright retaining their winning streak and the Cup, beating Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang 4-2 in the final. Another team looking to make it three in a row to get to keep the Cup on their mantelpiece for good!
Men’s Rugby 7s
Rugby entrants remained steady in 2025 with sixteen teams lining up for the chance of glory, and several players doubling up from playing on the Saturday. The Law Society RFC’s French cousins Le Rugby Club du Palais made their trip from Paris worthwhile with a strong victory over Latham & Watkins in the final of the Plate.
Simmons and Simmons took home the Cup with a hard-fought victory over Pinsent Masons coming out victorious 26-12.
Netball
Probably the most hotly contested of the five tournaments, Netball didn’t disappoint in 2025. Thirty-two teams lined up with Kennedy’s winning their first ever silverware, beating Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang 7-4 in the final of the Plate, making up for their narrow loss in the Bowl final in 2024.
PWC Legal narrowly missed out on the Cup competition but made amends by beating Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner 12-4 in the final of the Plate.
The most competitive and best netball was saved for the Final with Lloyd’s of London taking on Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Scores were tied at the end of normal time and remained tied at the end of extra time. Lloyd’s struck first in ‘golden time’ to win 9-8 retaining the Cup with a hard-fought win.
A special mention to the 93-strong team from William Fry who continued their support of the tournament coming over from Ireland for the weekend and entering three teams into the Mixed Tag tournament, and one in the Rugby tournament (and being rewarded for their efforts with the Fair Play Award – see below).
Fair Play Awards
Often the most valuable award on the day, given they are voted for by the referees and umpires for teams who have shown the most sporting behaviour. This includes playing matches in the spirit of the tournament, offering teams players when they have had injuries and celebrating victories/accepting losses with grace.
Congratulations to the winners:
- Women’s 5-a-side football: Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang
- Men’s 5-a-side football: Skadden
- Mixed Tag: Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang
- Men’s Rugby 7s: William Fry
- Netball: Hogan Lovells
It was great to see so many young and aspiring lawyers and finance professionals socialising and playing in the various tournaments on the day. They were treated this year with balls providing by Brockwell Capital and hydration packs provided by FourFive, with special guest and ex-England and Saracens international George Kruis on site to hand them out.
The FourFive team linked up with Maddy’s Mark, the charity who are looking to improve mental health of women through participation in rugby, helping to raise over £1,000 on the day.
Addleshaw Goddard bought a combined team from across their various sites, including Ireland, and were visible everywhere on the day through their sponsorship of the referee and umpire polo shirts, a lovely addition for those giving up their time to help make the tournament possible.