Scotland’S Day-One Schedule
Former Scotland internationalist and Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s ambassador, Roy Laidlaw, was joined by Jed-Forest sevens players at Riverside Park today as they prepare to host crucial finales of their respective sevens circuits. The finale of the Kings of the Sevens circuit (sponsored by BSPC) comes to Jed-Forest this Saturday (8 May) and, with the hosts in fourth place, they’re be looking for a bumper home crowd to drive the team on to the Jed and circuit titles. Tickets for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s are available now for just£15 for adults (advance purchase offer),£10 for students and£5 for under-18s at www.edinburgh7s.com and the 24-hour ticket hotline (0844 335 3933) – tickets are also available on the day. Former Scotland internationalist and Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s ambassador, Roy Laidlaw, was joined by Jed-Forest sevens players at Riverside Park today as they prepare to host crucial finales of their respective sevens circuits. The finale of the Kings of the Sevens circuit (sponsored by BSPC) comes to Jed-Forest this Saturday (8 May) and, with the hosts in fourth place, they’re be looking for a bumper home crowd to drive the team on to the Jed and circuit titles. Similarly, Laidlaw, himself a former Jed player, is looking to garner support for the national sevens team as they prepare to host 15 countries from around the world in the last leg of the IRB Sevens World Series at Murrayfield at the end of May (29 / 30 May). Tickets for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s are available now from just£15 for adults (advance purchase offer),£10 for students and£5 for under-18s at www.edinburgh7s.com and the 24-hour ticket hotline (0844 335 3933) – tickets are also available on the day. Jed-Forest secretary, John Davidson, said: Sevens is really exciting and is an excellent platform for young players to demonstrate their skills – it’s a fabulous end to the rugby season. It’s great to host the last event because we get a big crowd down and have a giant party to celebrate the end of the season. We’ve always been known as the friendly sevens so it’s a great family fun day out. Laidlaw, who won the Jed-Forest Sevens with the club in 1975, added: In the Borders, playing at home in your own sevens and in particular ours, being the last in the circuit, brings a big crowd – especially as four teams are in line for the title this season. It’s important to create an atmosphere and have a good tournament. Jed haven’t won a sevens tournament this year but we have some good young players and some speed so hopefully with a home crowd we can rise to the occasion and knock out one or two of the big guns. In the last leg of the IRB World Sevens Series at Murrayfield, Scotland will open their Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s account against Wellington winners Fiji before taking on Adelaide finalists USA and world champions Wales on day one which kicks off on Saturday 29 May. Series leaders Samoa have been drawn as top seeds in Edinburgh’s 16-team tournament with New Zealand, Australia and the USA also heading a pool based on results from the last two tournaments. While Samoa play Argentina, Kenya and France in Pool A, New Zealand line up against reigning Series champions South Africa, Italy and Russia in Pool B – in fact the pairing of the two groups means that, depending on results, Samoa and New Zealand could go head to head for the Series title in the knockout stages or in a winner takes all Murrayfield final. Currently placed third in the Series, defending Edinburgh champions Fiji provide a fantastic start to Scotland 7s’ Pool D action on Saturday 29 May as we bid to continue our run of consecutive successes on British soil over the south-sea islanders – having beaten them 19-14 at Murrayfield in 2008, and 12-7 in London in 2009. Drawing a comparison to Kings of the Sevens circuit and the IRB’s Sevens World Series, Laidlaw added: Like Jed, a home crowd for Scotland is so important. If the crowd gets behind then it will inspire them to go further. It’s not an expensive day out and offers a great opportunity to see the level of competition on a global scale – there are some outstanding teams and players on show. There’s a real party atmosphere in the stadium combined with a great display on the pitch to offer what modern sports spectators are looking or – a top class event and a good time. I’d encourage everyone to come and enjoy it. Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens Pools Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D Samoa New Zealand Australia USA Argentina South Africa England Fiji Kenya Russia Canada Wales (the full fixture schedule is available on www.edinburgh7s.com)Fiji v Scotland (kick-off 12.09pm)USA v Scotland (kick-off 3.13pm)Wales v Scotland (7.01pm) The Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s is the eighth and final leg of the IRB Sevens World Series. It will be held at Murrayfield on 29 and 30 May 2010. Tickets are available at www.edinburgh7s.com by calling the 24-hour Ticket Hotline – 0844 335 3933 or in person from the Murrayfield Ticket Centre, Gate A, Roseburn Street, Edinburgh (open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday).Rugby Sevens will be one of the showpiece events of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Ticket pricesAdult one day advance ticket -£15 £20 on the day) One day student and under-18 -£10 and£5Senior citizen one day -£10Family one day advance ticket -£35 (two adults & two children)All tickets are any day tickets – valid for either day of the eventTickets for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s are available to buy on match day Scottish Rugby has worked extensively with event partners EventScotland and the City of Edinburgh Council, to fully promote the world-class events coming to Murrayfield and ensure that everybody attending knows what Edinburgh as a city has to offer both the resident and the visitor. EventScotland – www.eventscotland.orgEventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. City of Edinburgh Council – www.edinburgh.gov.ukA capital like no other – 450,000 people. One city. Countless opportunities.Edinburgh is known across the world as Scotland’s festival capital, business capital, and culture capital. The city is home to the Scottish Parliament and some of the most iconic landmarks on the planet. Nearly half a million people call the city home, and we serve each and every one of them, making sure the city is a great place to live, work and enjoy.Edinburgh is a unique city, a vibrant city, a growing city, an evolving city. It’s a city that’s at the heart of Europe and the heart of a nation.