THEY may have qualified at the last minute but Ilkley revelled in their underdog status to become Secure Trading 24/Sevens champions, according to captain Elliot Morgan.

The small club from West Yorkshire had to travel all the way to London Irish just to qualify for the national finals at The Rec, home to Premiership Rugby outfit Bath.

After admitting they were happy to just take part in the event, Ilkley went on to dominate the tournament, winning every match including an enthralling final against fellow underdogs the Honey Badgers.

Captain Morgan hailed his side’s achievement and hopes the team can continue its success in the future.

He said: “It’s a surreal but great feeling to win the Secure Trading 24/Sevens Series.

“Being a little club from Ilkley, it’s an amazing thing. We were just excited to even be here. We were a bit nervous at the start, credit to the Honey Badgers they are a very good team.

"To play here at The Rec against all these great teams was amazing. To be national champions is a great achievement for us

“We want to be back next year to defend our title. It’s a great opportunity for all the players to get out here and show what they can do.”

In a fiercely competitive tournament, Ilkley topped Group B with a 100 per cent record and were joined in the last four by the Honey Badgers, who defeated Nomads and the Fijian Knights.

Elsewhere the Samurai Bulldogs and the Blue Bulldogs progressed from Group A as they edged past Godfathers.

Yet Ilkley and Honey Badgers upset the odds in the semi-finals with thrilling victories over the Bulldog sides to set up an unexpected final at The Rec.

It would be Ilkley who had the better fitness as they outlasted the Badgers in a ding-dong battle as Ben Magee starred for the Yorkshire side with a scintillating display, going over the whitewash twice in the second half.

And following the contest, coach Reece Morgan could not hide his joy at what his side had achieved.

The 50-year-old said: “I’m really chuffed for the boys, it’s a sensational occasion and a platform for the boys to perform and there’s some people here who might take a look at them.

“It does nothing but encourage the skills and really brings them on as players and their levels of their stepping and their passing. I hope it pushes these skills into their 15s game.

“We’re a humble side from a small club so to come here and win is an immense feeling. We weren’t even sure we’d get to be here so to then win it is a dream come true.”

Secure Trading 24/Sevens, is an exciting grassroots sevens competition run by England Rugby. For more information on the Secure Trading 24/Sevens series and ways to get involved in rugby sevens, go to www.englandrugby.com/sevens/