Legacy Sevens title crowns great season for Howe

HOWE OF Fife have crowned their best-ever season by winning rugby’s Legacy Sevens title to go with the Premier Three title secured last month.

The young Howe squad didn’t qualify for the last four of the final counting event, the Glasgow City Sevens at Drumbreck, but victory in the consolation Shield f inal against Dundee HSFP meant they gained enough points for the overall title.

The Glasgow event was the only one of five counting events where Howe didn’t reach the final, having won their own event a fortnight ago and at Stirling last month, as well as being runners-up at both Boroughmuir and Hamilton.

The club won their first Premier division crown by beating GHA at Duffus Park inapril and next season will be strong favourites to win the new RBS Championship division after this summer’s latest round of league restructuring.

The Cupar club are also in the running for the SRU’S RBS Club of the Year at the annual awards dinner at Murrayfield on Friday.

Edinburgh have announced the signing of lock Izak van der Westhuizen from South African Super- 15 rugby side Free State Cheetahs.

The 26-year-old has signed a two-year contract with the Rabodirect Pro12 side.

Van der Westhuizen is Edinburgh’s 10th summer signing, joining the likes of WP Nel and New Zealand international Benatiga.

Denis Leamy has become the third Munster player this season to announce an early retirement due to injury.

The 30-year-old Ireland international was plagued by a hip complaint, which limited him to just three Rabodirect PRO12 games and Munster’s four opening games in the Heineken Cup following his return from theworld Cup.

Capped 57 times, Leamy was a member of the 2009 Grand Slamwinning side.

Denis Leamy.