GUEST TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR 2017 MELROSE SEVENS
Posted by David Barnes
THE guest sides for this year’s Melrose Sevens, which takes place on 8th April, have been announced. Teams from Western Province in South Africa, Sweden, the Co-optimists and Harlequins will all take part in this year’s event, which is once again sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management.

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“With the World Rugby series increasing in popularity each year, and the excitement of the British Silver Medal success in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, rugby Sevens is now a global phenomenon. Since its inception in Melrose in 1883, the seven-a-side game has reached corners of the globe that have never before embraced rugby,” said Melrose president Trevor Jackson.

“In the spirit of the original Sevens, but also to honour its legacy, this year Melrose announced its ambitious 1883 Legacy Project for a development at The Greenyards to provide a fitting space for Sevens heritage as well as activity areas for the whole community.”

From closer to home, Jed-Forest, Kelso, Peebles, Selkirk, Ayr, Boroughmuir, Currie, Heriot’s, Watsonians, GHA, Falkirk, Dundee Rugby, Glasgow Hawks, Marr Rugby, Edinburgh Academicals, Stewart’s-Melville, Stirling County, Gala and Hawick will also compete.

“The 2017 tournament looks to be an exciting programme of Sevens rugby. With a good geographic mix, we feel it is going to be a very open tournament with any of the competing teams in with a chance of winning. A national team from Sweden continues the club’s policy of widening our Sevens participation experience even further,” said Melrose Sevens Convener, Ian Cooper

“With Rugby Sevens having been included for the first time as an extremely successful Olympic event in 2016 the profile of the game has never been higher. Add to that the Scotland Seven’s success at the Twickenham Sevens and you have a game which has well and truly made its mark on the global sporting stage. In addition, with this being Scotland’s ‘Year of History Heritage and Archaeology’ there will be an increased number of visitors in the area taking advantage of what the region has to offer,” he added.

This is the sixth year that Aberdeen Asset Management has sponsored the event.

“Going on last year’s thrilling finish, we expect the 2017 instalment of the tournament to be as exciting as ever with an array of local and international talent on show for the thousands of rugby fans in attendance, along with those watching live on BBC Scotland. The event has a magical feeling to it and we are proud to be associated with its history and prestige, along with the growing popularity of rugby Sevens around the world. We hope you enjoy the tournament,” said Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management.