Rugby Sevens
The Scottish Borders is truly home to Rugby Sevens - the game being invented by Ned Haig in 1883. Ned (born Jedburgh, 1858) was working as a butcher in Melrose, while playing for Melrose Rugby Club when he came up with the idea of hosting a one day rugby tournament to raise funds for the club. The games were shortened from the usual 80 minutes to 15 (seven minutes for each half with one minute half-time), and the teams were reduced from 15 to seven players.
The first ever Rugby Sevens games was played at The Greenyards, the home ground of Melrose RC, on 28 April 1883 - as the main attraction of a sports day that also included running races and ball kicking events.
With the games being played at a frantic pace, the tournament was an instant success - and the other Borders club all set up their own tournaments. These tournaments are collectively known as 'The Borders Sevens Circuit', and unsurprisingly, it's the oldest Sevens circuit.
The ten most prestigious of these events are grouped into a league competition known as the 'Kings of the Sevens':
The Borders Sevens Circuit:
- August: Kelso Sevens (16 August 2008)
- August: Selkirk Sevens (24 August 2008)
- April: Melrose Sevens (11 April 2009)
- April: Hawick Sevens (18 April 2009)
- April: Berwick Sevens (19 April 2009)
- April: Langholm Sevens (25 April 2009)
- April: Peebles Sevens (26 April 2009)
- May: Gala Sevens (2 May 2009)
- May: Earlston Sevens (3 May 2009)
- May: Jed-Forest Sevens (9 May 2009)
Links to other Border clubs can be found on the Scottish Rugby website.
Unified Solutions.