Melrose Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Melrose Rugby Club, at The Greenyards in Melrose, Scotland. It is the oldest rugby sevens competition in the world,[1] dating back to 1883 when the tournament was suggested by former Melrose players Ned Haig[2] and Davie Sanderson.[3] Shogun are the current men and women's holders having won the tournament in 2024.
History
Held every April, the tournament is part of the Kings of the Sevens competition, and has attracted teams from as far afield as Japan, Hong Kong, Uruguay and South Africa.
From 2018 the playing time in the final was cut from twenty minutes to fourteen minutes which is in line with the standard match time.[citation needed]
In September 2019 the organisers had set out plans for the Melrose Sevens to relaunch as a four-day festival of music and rugby.[4] The 2020 event was however postponed and eventually cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[5] There was no event held in 2021 due to the pandemic.[6]
Media coverage
Domestically, the tournament is broadcast live on YouTube and locally, from the first tie right through to the final, on Borders Rugby Radio
Past winners
- 2024 Shogun (Mens and Womens)
- 2023
Monaco IMPI's
- 2023
Lionesses (Womens)
- 2022
British Army
- 2020-2021 Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
- 2019
London Scottish
- 2018
Watsonians
- 2017
Harlequins
- 2016
Edinburgh
- 2015
Glasgow Warriors
- 2014
Glasgow Warriors
- 2013
Saracens
- 2012
Saracens
- 2011
Melrose
- 2010
Hamilton Sea Point
- 2009
University of Johannesburg
- 2008
Scottish Thistles
- 2007
University of the Free State
- 2006
Newcastle Falcons
- 2005
Stellenbosch University
- 2004
Stellenbosch University
- 2003
Sale Sharks
- 2002
Boroughmuir
- 2001
Barbarians
- 2000
Nawaka
- 1999
Gala
- 1998
Melrose
- 1997
Melrose
- 1996
Watsonians
- 1995
Manly
- 1994
Gala
- 1993 Co-Optimists
- 1992
Bay of Plenty
- 1991
Irish Wolfhounds
- 1990
Randwick
- 1989
Kelso
- 1988
Kelso
- 1987
Harlequins
- 1986
Kelso
- 1985
Kelso
- 1984
Kelso
- 1983
French Barbarians
- 1982
Heriot's FP
- 1981
Gala
- 1980
Kelso
- 1979
Stewart's Melville
- 1978
Kelso
- 1977
Gala
- 1976
Watsonians
- 1975
Melrose
- 1974
Jed-Forest
- 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
- 1962
London Scottish
- 1961
Royal HSFP
- 1960
Cambridge University
- 1959
Gala
- 1958
Heriot's FP
- 1957
Heriot's FP
- 1956
Stewart's College FP
- 1955
Hawick
- 1954
Heriot's FP
- 1953
Hawick
- 1952
Melrose
- 1951
Rosslyn Park
- 1950
Melrose
- 1949
Edinburgh Accies
- 1948
Melrose
- 1947
Melrose
- 1946
Hawick
- 1945
Watsonians
- 1942-1944 Not held due to World War II
- 1941
Edinburgh City Police
- 1940
Heriot's FP
- 1939
Heriot's FP
- 1938
Heriot's FP
- 1937
Gala
- 1936
Watsonians
- 1935
Watsonians
- 1934
Royal HSFP
- 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 FP
- 1922
Hawick
- 1921
Royal HSFP
- 1920
Stewart's College FP
- 1919
Hawick
- 1916-1918 Not held due to World War I
- 1915
Lothian & Border Horse
- 1914
Watsonians
- 1913
Hawick
- 1912
Hawick
- 1911
Hawick
- 1910
Hawick
- 1909
Hawick
- 1908
Hawick
- 1907
Watsonians
- 1906
Watsonians
- 1905
Watsonians
- 1904
Jed-Forest
- 1903
Gala
- 1902
Jed-Forest
- 1901
Hawick
- 1900
Hawick
- 1899
Jed-Forest
- 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 (10)
- Kelso (7)
- Heriot's FP (7)
- Jed-Forest (4)
- Boroughmuir (3)
- Edinburgh Accies (3)
London Scottish (3)
- Royal HSFP (3)
- Stewart's College FP (2)
Stellenbosch University (2)
Loughborough Colleges (2)
Harlequins (2)
Saracens (2)
- Glasgow Warriors (2)
See also
References
- ^ "Oldest Sevens tournaments in the world". 27 July 2019.
- ^ "Ned Haig". 8 June 2022.
- ^ "Davie Sanderson". 8 June 2022.
- ^ Barnes, David (23 September 2019). "Melrose Sevens to relaunch as four-day festival of music and rugby". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Melrose Sevens postponed". BBC Sport. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ "World famous Melrose Sevens rugby tournament to return in 2022 after Covid-19 cancellations". ITV News. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
External links
- Official website
- Melrose 7s - Roll of Honour Rugby7.com
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