But while some teams  - those who had let girls join in - were happy just chucking the ball at each other, some took a more proactive approach.

Each team had been assigned a player from Harlequins to tutor the squads in the art of touch rugby - a code of rugby which does not involve the usual bone-crunch tackles most sports fans will be familiar with - before the day. But GoldFinger noted that not only did many strapping players look like they were, somehow, training as full-time athletes, but several teams had taken the rather crafty ploy to hold pre-match training sessions.

The teams had organised themselves with varying degrees of professionalism, so it appeared. In this respect, runners-up Credit Suisse should be given credit, not only for turning out in such strong numbers, but for kitting out their players in such dapper-looking blue and white corporate garb.

Pemrose, the PR firm, on the other hand, scored top marks for sheer enthusiasm - although zero points as they literally didn’t score a single try.

Other teams of note included a robust Sterling team and the muscular hosts, ETF Securities, whose ball handling skills were likened by one by one spectator to the Globe Trotters all-star basketball team from Harlem - but GoldFinger suspects this was as much for their showboating as their ability to pass the ball to each other one-handed.

The event was also put on to promote rugby league in the city. Looking at some of the players, however, GoldFinger isn’t sure City boys need much more encouragement to get into roughhouse sports.

A play-off for the Plate, the ferocity of which belying the fact they were contesting for third place, was matched only by the final itself. The teams were so evenly matched that Morgan Stanley only snatched victory in extra time with a golden try against ETF Securities.

Taken all together, this was an enjoyable event and a welcome break from the office for your correspondent and participants alike.