Melrose plan four-day sevens tournament in bid to host Word Cup
MELROSE Rugby Limited have unveiled ambitious plans to revamp their world-famous
Sevens tournament into a fourday festival, as part of a long-term drive to host the Rugby World
Cup Sevens in 2033, on the 150th anniversary of the first ever tournament at the Greenyards in 1883.
The four-day event will involve a concert by a “very well-known band” on Thursday April 9, an Under-18s tournament with teams from across the UK and abroad on the Friday, followed by “A Question of Rugby” themed evening with teams made up of past and present rugby stars.
The traditional Ladies Cup tournament will be held on the Saturday followed on the Sunday by a new competition called The Ned Haig Cup, involving Super6 teams and some guest sides.
The weekend will culminate on Sunday evening with another concert featuring “a big Scottish name”. The stated aim is to put the Greenyards – the home of the Amateur Sevens game – front-andcentre on the rugby world stage.
“This is our Sevens 20/20 Vision”, explained Phil Morris, commercial and marketing director of Melrose Rugby Ltd.
“We’re going to put on a fantastic event, maintaining all the rugby traditions we all hold dear but adding new exciting competitions and entertainment.
“We want our Sevens tournament to be inclusive and fun. Whether or not you’re a die-hard rugby fan, there’s going to be something for everyone, young and old. Melrose is where Rugby Sevens was born in 1883. In 2020, we’re taking things to another level.”
Mike Dalgetty, director of rugby at Melrose, added that, while the club is keen to evolve the tournament, it is vital it retains its traditional values.
“We have big ambitions at Melrose, on and off the field. There’s a real energy and buzz about the place and it’s exciting to be part of that. We’re so proud of our heritage as the home of Amateur Rugby Sevens. We’ve proved, year-after-year, that we can put on a top-class tournament.
“We will never take our eye off what has always made the Melrose Sevens so special. Those traditions will remain. But our 2020 tournament is going to be bigger than ever before.”
The club is working with the Scottish Borders Council to ensure all logistics are managed.
More information, including details of teams taking part, concert and entertainment line-up, and ticket prices will be revealed over the coming weeks.