For the 12th year running, Wimbledon RFC have shown the power of teamwork and their passion for supporting the rugby family as they hosted the incredible JF7s, which raises valuable funds for the RFU Injured Players Foundation and Wooden Spoon charities.
A huge thanks to all involved who supported the IPF at this year’s event, which saw 100 rugby 7s and netball teams enjoying the summer vibes and warm hospitality on offer in south west London.
This year’s titles went to Tropics Rugby for the men’s rugby 7s tournament and the Hammerheads for the women’s, while the Assassins were crowned 2026 netball champions. Players from all teams enjoyed the perfect balance between on pitch competition and in bar socialising.
Here, we catch up with some of the key figures who have dedicated so much of their time to making the JF7s such a successful event over the years.
Former Wimbledon RFC Chair John Woods explains the inception of the tournament, which has since cemented itself as a highlight within the rugby 7s calendar.
“The JF7s started because one of our players, Jack, sustained a catastrophic spinal cord injury while playing for our first team and we wanted to look after him, just as any rugby club would.
“We got advice from the Injured Players Foundation about ways in which we could support Jack as a club, and one way was through a sevens fundraising tournament.
“We started this 11 or 12 years ago and it's grown and grown. For the first year or so Jack was the beneficiary, but because of the kind of guy he is he asked us to continue fundraising for the RFU Injured Players Foundation instead, so more people could benefit.
“He felt he had already received enough support and wanted us to raise money for the IPF because not every club could do what we had been able to do for him.”
Former Wimbledon RFC President Jim Green continues the story, saying, “That thought for other people is characteristic of Jack. He has been inspirational in how he's dealt with having a disability and how he’s approached life since his injury.
“He’s still central to what today is about and it’s fantastic having him here as usual, enjoying catching up with his teammates.
“Through Jack we have got to know a lot more about the IPF and other people who benefit from the charity. It's just fantastic, you know, it's rugby looking after its own.
“I think there's a genuine need and the IPF fills that need very well. So, we wanted to continue supporting the charity and changed the name from Jack Fishwick 7s to JF7s.
“It's a wonderful event and every year the number of women's rugby sevens, men's rugby sevens and netball teams grows and it's just a fantastic festival of sport.
“Underneath it all is a desire from everybody to support two great charities in the RFU Injured Players Foundation and the Wooden Spoon.
"We also support local VCSE organisations like Merton community transport who we use as a mini bus service, so it's also a good fundraising event for them as a local business. After the cost of providing the service, they were also given a £100 donation."
The tournament has developed into something far bigger than anyone anticipated in 2015, as Jack himself explains:
“We started with only a small handful of teams and now we're almost at capacity with around 100 which is amazing. The entire site is packed. Usually, we have about two and a half thousand people through the gates which is incredible really.
“The sun’s shining, it’s mad fun and really social. Also, each year the quality of rugby gets better and better. The top tier is a fantastic standard of 7s.
“More than anything it's just so good to see the club thriving and everyone going home having put some money into some pots for amazing causes.
“In the current economy, I think having more of these community days which are also strong financial days, with pitches full and bars full, is so important. It makes a massive difference to clubs, and you want to see more events like this happening around the country.”
As well as the club’s biggest event, John Wood explains the JF7s is also one of the most joyful: “It’s the highlight of our season,” he says. It brings people together and it's just so much fun.
“The whole thing is gorgeous. Everybody enjoys themselves, we make some money behind the bar, and we make a lot more for the charities through the raffles and ticket prices.”
Tracey Smith, who has been involved in the JF7s since 2019, has been a driving force behind growing the tournament explained:
“It’s just been brilliant to see so many teams here enjoying themselves. The JF7s is definitely the biggest charity tournament in the country, and I think we're probably in the top three one-day tournaments which is brilliant for Wimbledon Rugby Club.
“Over the years, I’ve tried to bring in more women’s teams, so we’re now one of the biggest women’s tournaments in the country as well.
“One of the things I'm focused on is how we create that nice end of 7s season summer vibe, where players enjoy the sport then enjoy the bars and the party atmosphere afterwards with the DJ, while also raising money for our two charities.”
John was keen to pay tribute to the army of volunteers who have helped Wimbledon to make the JF7s such a huge success over the past decade.
“The event is run primarily by volunteers, and we can’t thank them enough,” he says. “Our walking rugby squad have been really involved. They love the game and everything the sport has given them over the years and want to give back to it.”
As committee lead for the Clubhouse at Wimbledon, Barry Hooper, explains, a lot of hard work goes into running an event on this scale, but everyone pulls together and enjoys being part of it.
“You can see from the smiles on people’s faces how much they’re enjoying themselves,” he says.
“A lot of people have said it’s an amazing event and to be honest, if you come to Wimbledon on a sunny day like this, there’s nothing much better.
“I think we started setting up about three days ago. People are probably shattered now, but it’s a lot of fun and worth it.
“We’re lucky we have an amazing group of volunteer supporters at Wimbledon who come out in force for every event we do. It's a real team effort.
“We’re all motivated by Jack's story. He has created a legacy which has gone on to support many other injured players, and everyone buys into that.”
Tracey added: “The Injured Players Foundation has had a massive impact on Wimbledon and a massive impact on Jack.
“When he talks about what the IPF did for him and how they're at the hospital straight away, how they work through your needs and help you with long term support, you realise how important a charity it can be for the rugby community so it’s brilliant to be supporting them again today.
“Hopefully the worst doesn't ever happen again, but we know that the Injured Players Foundation will be there if it does.”
As Jack explains, “I've benefited so much from all that early help when I initially got injured. Before my accident, I had no idea that the IPF even existed. And within 12 hours of being injured the IPF team was by my bedside, not only supporting me but also my family.
“My parents and my two sisters received a load of help as well, on reflection a lot more help than we would have actively asked for. It made such a big difference, and I wanted more people to benefit from that kind of support that we received.
“The link between this club and the IPF is now stronger than ever and it's so important to let players playing now know about that support network, so they know that support exists.
“I would implore rugby clubs to reach out to the Injured Players Foundation and create a link however small it might be. There might come a day where the Injured Players Foundation will be greater associated with your club, so I'd really encourage everybody to create that bridge because only good things come from it.”
Next year’s JF7s tournament will take place on 24 July.
If your club would like to hold a fundraising event in support of the RFU Injured Players Foundation visit https://www.rfuipf.org.uk/get-involved-help-the-ipf
