Why the World Sevens Was the Most Fun I’ve Had All Season

I was so lucky to head along to the World Sevens this year with my fellow Girlactico girlie, Sophie Hurst and honestly, we are still buzzing from it. The whole weekend was just overflowing with that infectious, pure tournament joy that you only really find when the stakes are high and the energy is unmatched.

There is something actually so addictive about the Sevens format, the rapid-fire 30-minute games are pure adrenaline. You barely have time to blink before the next big play happens and every match felt like a total whirlwind of speed, skill and just brilliant vibes from start to finish.

DAY 1

We rolled up to the GTech Community Stadium in Brentford on Thursday, super excited for the day ahead. After getting our accreditation sorted, we jumped straight into the action, capturing all the behind-the-scenes magic for the Girlactico socials.

The walkouts were definitely the highlight of my day. Getting down to the pitch before every match to film the entrances was such a blast, you could really feel the energy in the stadium. There was just so much genuine joy everywhere you looked and it was awesome to be right there in the middle of it all to get those shots for our socials.

DAY 2

Day two was just as good and honestly, since I knew what to expect, I was even more hyped for the day ahead. The walkouts somehow kept getting better and better, there was just so much energy every single time a team stepped onto the pitch. We also spent some time down in the media room to grab some interviews with the players and staff. Getting the chance to have a great chat with Sonia Bompastor was definitely the highlight of the day; it was so cool to hear her take on everything.

And just to make things interesting, I managed to snag a photo of Sophie, a die-hard Arsenal fan, grinning while holding a Chelsea flag.

Another massive highlight for me was the refs. It was honestly so refreshing to see them actually having fun and letting their personalities show, it had to be such a nice break from all the pressure and stick they usually have to deal with during the league season. They even got involved in the walkouts and seeing them take their own penalties as part of the entrance was such a vibe.

DAY 3

Day 3 was definitely my favourite, the two semis and the final were such a step up. Going from six games a day down to three made all the running around so much more chill and it was nice to really soak in the atmosphere.

The action started with Chelsea putting on a clinic in an 8-2 win over Aston Villa, followed by Manchester United beating Everton 5-2. I was really rooting for Everton as the underdogs since they’d been playing so well and I honestly thought they had a chance against United, but it just wasn't their day. And although they didn't get through to the final, they win best walkout of the compeition with that Hannah Blundell Man Utd funeral stunt.

THE FINAL

The final was easily the best part of the entire tournament, an absolute rollercoaster from start to finish. Chelsea and Manchester United went toe-to-toe in a 6-5 thriller that had everyone on the edge of their seats. It was intense, fast and exactly the kind of game you dream of witnessing in person. The energy in the stadium was off the charts. I don't think there’s a better way to have wrapped up the weekend.

Make sure to head over to @girlactico on Instagram to catch everything else we got up to over the weekend. A massive thank you to World Sevens for having us; it was honestly the best few days ever and such a blast to be part of.

Also, this is my official, formal plea for all future tournaments to have these exact same vibes, especially when it comes to the music. I never in a million years thought I’d be watching Jess Park on the pitch while "Bonkers" by Dizzy Rascal was blasting through the stadium speakers, but I am so grateful I’ve experienced it now. It was iconic.