Melrose Sevens
Encyclopedia
Melrose Sevens is an annual rugby sevens
event held by Melrose Rugby Club
, in Melrose, Scotland
. It is the oldest rugby sevens competition dating from 1883, when the tournament was suggested by former Melrose player Ned Haig
.
Held every April, the tournament is part of the Kings of the Sevens
competition, and has attracted teams from as far afield as Japan
, Uruguay
and South Africa
. Melrose are the current champions becoming the first Scottish club side to win since Boroughmuir in 2003, the first Border League
side to win since Gala in 1999 and winning their own sevens tournament for the first time since 1998. The win was made all the more remarkable since they beat the holders, Hamilton's RFC of Cape Town, South Africa, ending the run of champions made up of invitational sides consisting of professional and semi-professional players.
Domestically, the tournament is broadcast live by BBC Scotland
and BBC Red Button, and locally, from the first tie right through to the final, on Radio Borders
.
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
event held by Melrose Rugby Club
Melrose RFC
Melrose Rugby Football Club, located in the town of Melrose in the Scottish Borders, is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world.-History:The club was formed in 1877 and was elected to full membership of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1880...
, in Melrose, Scotland
Melrose, Scotland
Melrose is a small town and civil parish in the Scottish Borders, historically in Roxburghshire. It is in the Eildon committee area.-Etymology:...
. It is the oldest rugby sevens competition dating from 1883, when the tournament was suggested by former Melrose player Ned Haig
Ned Haig
Ned Haig was a butcher and rugby union player notable for founding the sport of rugby sevens. He moved to Melrose when he was young. There he took up rugby and joined Melrose Rugby Football Club in 1880...
.
Held every April, the tournament is part of the Kings of the Sevens
Borders Sevens Circuit
The Borders Sevens Circuit is the name given to rugby union sevens tournaments that are held annually in the Scottish Borders. It is the oldest Sevens Circuit in the world, with most sevens dating from the 19th century.-Kings of the Sevens:...
competition, and has attracted teams from as far afield as Japan
Japan Rugby Football Union
The Japan Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Japan. It was formed November 30, 1926 and is currently one of only two federations from a "Tier 2" country with a seat on the International Rugby Board executive council, the sport's international governing body...
, Uruguay
Unión de Rugby del Uruguay
The Uruguayan Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Uruguay.-Foundation and affiliation:It was founded in 1951 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1989.They have been represented in the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups....
and South Africa
South African Rugby Union
The South African Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in South Africa and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board...
. Melrose are the current champions becoming the first Scottish club side to win since Boroughmuir in 2003, the first Border League
Border League
For the defunct baseball league, see Border League The Border League, is the oldest established rugby union league in the World, having been formed in 1901...
side to win since Gala in 1999 and winning their own sevens tournament for the first time since 1998. The win was made all the more remarkable since they beat the holders, Hamilton's RFC of Cape Town, South Africa, ending the run of champions made up of invitational sides consisting of professional and semi-professional players.
Domestically, the tournament is broadcast live by BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland
BBC Scotland is a constituent part of the British Broadcasting Corporation, the publicly-funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is, in effect, the national broadcaster for Scotland, having a considerable amount of autonomy from the BBC's London headquarters, and is run by the BBC Trust, who...
and BBC Red Button, and locally, from the first tie right through to the final, on Radio Borders
Radio Borders
Radio Borders is a radio station broadcasting to the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland from studios in Tweedbank, just outside Galashiels...
.
Past winners
- 2011 Melrose
- 2010 Hamilton's RFC of Cape Town (RSA)
- 2009 University of Johannesburg (RSA)
- 2008 Scottish Thistles
- 2007 University of the Orange Free State (Shimlas) (RSA)
- 2006 Newcastle Falcons (ENG)
- 2005 Stellenbosch University (RSA)
- 2004 Stellenbosch University (RSA)
- 2003 Sale Sharks (ENG)
- 2002 Boroughmuir
- 2001 Barbarians
- 2000 Nawaka (FIJ)
- 1999 Gala
- 1998 Melrose
- 1997 Melrose
- 1996 Watsonians
- 1995 Manly
- 1994 Gala
- 1993 Co-Optimists
- 1992 Bay of Plenty (NZ)
- 1991 Irish Wolfhounds (IRE)
- 1990 Randwick (AUS)
- 1989 Kelso
- 1988 Kelso
- 1987 Harlequins (ENG)
- 1986 Kelso
- 1985 Kelso
- 1984 Kelso
- 1983 French Barbarians
- 1982 Heriot's F.P.
- 1981 Gala
- 1980 Kelso
- 1979 Stewarts Melville- F.P.
- 1978 Kelso
- 1977 Gala
- 1976 Boroughmuir
- 1975 Melrose
- 1974 Jedforest
- 1973 Edinburgh Wanderers
- 1972 Gala
- 1971 Gala
- 1970 Gala
- 1969 Loughborough Colleges
- 1968 Loughborough Colleges
- 1967 Hawick
- 1966 Hawick
- 1965 London Scottish
- 1964 Gala
- 1963 Boroughmuir F.P.
- 1962 London Scottish
- 1961 Royal H.S.
- 1960 Cambridge University
- 1959 Gala
- 1958 Heriot's F.P.
- 1957 Heriot's F.P.
- 1956 Stewart's F.P.
- 1955 Hawick
- 1954 Heriot's F.P.
- 1953 Hawick
- 1952 Melrose
- 1951 Rosslyn Park (ENG)
- 1950 Melrose
- 1949 Edinburgh Accies
- 1948 Melrose
- 1947 Melrose
- 1946 Hawick
- 1942-1945 World War II
- 1941 Edinburgh City Police
- 1940 Heriot's F.P.
- 1939 Heriot's F.P.
- 1938 Heriot's F.P.
- 1937 Gala
- 1936 Watsonians
- 1935 Watsonians
- 1934 Royal H.S.
- 1933 Hawick
- 1932 Gala
- 1931 Melrose
- 1930 Edinburgh Accies
- 1929 Hawick
- 1928 Edinburgh Accies
- 1927 Hawick
- 1926 Watsonians
- 1925 Hawick
- 1924 Hawick
- 1923 Heriot's F.P.
- 1922 Hawick
- 1921 Royal H.S.
- 1920 Stewart's F.P.
- 1919 Hawick
- 1915-1918 Not held due to World War I
- 1914 Watsonians
- 1913 Hawick
- 1912 Hawick
- 1911 Hawick
- 1910 Hawick
- 1909 Hawick
- 1908 Hawick
- 1907 Watsonians
- 1906 Watsonians
- 1905 Watsonians
- 1904 Jedforest
- 1903 Gala
- 1902 Jedforest
- 1901 Hawick
- 1900 Hawick
- 1899 Jedforest
- 1898 Hawick
- 1897 Hawick
- 1896 Hawick
- 1895 Hawick
- 1894 Hawick
- 1893 Hawick
- 1892 Hawick
- 1891 Gala
- 1890 Gala
- 1889 Melrose
- 1888 Hawick & Wilton
- 1887 Hawick
- 1886 Tynedale
- 1885 Melrose
- 1884 Gala
- 1883 Melrose
Number of wins
Hawick (28) Gala (15) Melrose (12) Watsonians (8) Kelso (7) Heriot's F.P. (7) Jedforest (4) Boroughmuir (3) Edinburgh Accies (3) Stewarts FP/ Stewarts Melville FP (3) Stellenbosch University (2) Loughborough Colleges (2) London Scottish (2) Royal H.S. (2)See also
- Melrose RFCMelrose RFCMelrose Rugby Football Club, located in the town of Melrose in the Scottish Borders, is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world.-History:The club was formed in 1877 and was elected to full membership of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1880...
- Borders Sevens CircuitBorders Sevens CircuitThe Borders Sevens Circuit is the name given to rugby union sevens tournaments that are held annually in the Scottish Borders. It is the oldest Sevens Circuit in the world, with most sevens dating from the 19th century.-Kings of the Sevens:...
- Scottish Rugby UnionScottish Rugby UnionThe Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
- Scottish Premiership