Melrose Sevens set to return for 141st instalment

The historic Melrose Sevens will return to The Greenyards next weekend for the 141st instalment of the competition, and this year the latter part of the day will be broadcast by BBC Scotland for the first time since the COVID pandemic.

First played in April 1883 by Ned Haig, the Sevens game as it is known today become a mainstay of international rugby, thanks to its Melrose inventor.

This year’s competition will kick off with local derbies between Edinburgh and Borders teams from 11.04am on Saturday 13 April.

The tournament opener will see Hawick take on Currie, followed by Gala against Peebles in a clash promising an intense showdown at 11:21am.

Reigning champions, Monaco Impis, will take to the field just after 1pm to face off against Glasgow Accies.

The South of Scotland Barbarians will battle the winner of the Watsonians versus Boroughmuir tie, while hosts Melrose await the victors of the Selkirk versus Edinburgh Accies fixture.

Meanwhile, the Mike Bleasdale Cup is the women’s competition and features The Lionesses, Shogun Rugby, Hammerhead 7s and The Eric Liddell 100 team.

BBC Scotland will broadcast the tournament on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app starting from the quarter-final stage at 4pm, through to both the Men’s and Women’s finals due to finish by 7.30pm.

The full day of action will also be broadcast on the Melrose Sevens YouTube channel from 10.50am on Saturday 13 April. Tickets to attend the event are still available from melrose7s.co.uk.