Two weeks before the Carrick Sevens, Exiles Coach, Mark Henderson received a phone call for Thames TV asking him if the Exiles would take part in a new Television Show called “Lets Get Gold” to showcase 15 different sports. They said during that their research “The Carrick Sevens” had stood out amongest Sevens Tournaments in Britain and the Exiles had good results over the years in this event. After talking to this years team it was agreed to take part and on the following Wednesday a film crew from London arrived and recorded the Exiles traning and recorded an hour interview with the players.
The Production Team loved them and the following Saturday flew Chris Henderson and Mike Kirkwood over to London to meet and discuss the routine.
Scroll Down For Exclusive Pictures Released Before This Weekends Show
After the Guinness Carrick Sevens Paul Domaine and Natalie Smith Wright were flown over on 3 occasions (in between choreographing the Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace) to help the guys with the routine to show off 7’s Rugby, but with the Fun the game has..
The work started on May 25th with a Film Crew and Producer flying over to Belfast to record the Exiles for the tape for the pre-show. Four hours of recording at the gym at “Friends School Lisburn” then an hour in “The Tannary Moira” to record the guys socialising.
8am on Saturday morning saw the guys and crew at the “Titanic Museum” Belfast then onto “Belfast Harlequins” grounds for recording until 7pm that night on what was to be the hottest day this year, the sunburn on the VT supports this.
Then the weekend of the show recording, June 15th arrive at hotel in Wembley just beside the famous grounds and team meeting, the Exiles were here for the show BUT it was a rugby team and this was a Tour!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday 26th, 9am to the Fountain Studios, the Green room opposite Simon Cowl’s changing room and just down from the judges rooms, Rio Ferdinand, Freddie Flintoff, Martine McCutcheon and Una Healey who was missing Ben Foden as he was away getting beaten by the South Africans.
7pm came and end of rehearsals, back to Hotel ( 5 mins walk for studios) and out to the city.
Sunday 11am in Studios and dress rehearsals until 5 pm when recording of live show started infront of
an audience of 700 with only 200 able to vote to ensure no friends or families able to influence the vote.
A great show and the result will be on this Saturday (7th July) 830pm ITV1.show itself starts Thurs 5th 9pm
A fantastic experience for the Exiles and topped off with the production team, researchers and cheoraghers and other teams returning to the Exiles Hotel for an after show party.
Monday, 3 15pm saw the end of this experience with departure from Heathrow.
The UIster Exiles has many players but this years team were, Simon Potter (capt), Daryl Marshall, Chris Henderson, Mike Kirkwood, Timmy Potter, Mike McKeever, Andrew Caddoo, David Parkhill, Anas Smaali and Mark Riddell
Thanks to the sponsors Charles Hurst Renault, Abbey Insurance, Premier Print, Mars and Kinetica,but a big thanks has to go to the Exiles Kit Supplier KUKRI who help them out at every stage and Kinetica who kept them going
Follow them on twitter @ulsterexiles and on facebook
