Ambassador’s Welcome

A warm welcome from Scottish Rugby Union president Andy Irvine, the official ambassador for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s.It gives me great pleasure to welcome you, through the new official website, to the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s 2007. This website will be the “must visit” official source for up to date news and information over the coming weeks as the countdown clock ticks towards the eagerly anticipated final leg of the IRB Sevens World Series at Murrayfield on 2 and 3 June.For all the players the competition is hotting up, with valuable points available at every stage of the series. New Zealand and Fiji, holders of the series title and the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, are looking strong but prominent forces in the abbreviated form of the game, such as South Africa and Samoa, are snapping at their heels.  Let’s not forget our own squad. The Scotland 7s team, this year comprised of young National Academy players and supplemented by professionals from Glasgow Warriors, Edinburgh Rugby and the Borders Reivers, are improving all the time. It hasn’t been an easy season but with victories over both Australia and Argentina coming at the USA Sevens in San Diego in February, the Scotland squad is settling in for a strong finish.Sevens is a fantastic sport to be part of, both as a player and a supporter. The IRB Sevens World Series attracted more than 250,000 spectators last season over the eight stage circuit and it’s growing all the time. The party atmosphere at the well established events in Hong Kong and Wellington is so popular that the tournaments sell out months in advance. I was fortunate enough to play in Hong Kong in the early 80s and that was a tremendous experience. As a player, sevens really tests you to the limit. There is so much room on the pitch that your fitness and skills have to be first class and there is no room for error. With such obvious benefits for the XVs game, sevens really is a perfect way for young players to hone their talents. Personally, I’m very excited about the forthcoming event – held this year at Murrayfield. Sevens is coming home to the country of its birth and I think that will make for a fitting end to the series. Tickets are on sale now through this website and with very attractive prices and packages on offer, it’s an event not to be missed. We’re very pleased to have the support of the IRB, tournament sponsors Emirates Airline and partners EventScotland and over the coming weeks we’ll be working with other organisations and agencies to ensure that this will be a weekend to remember for Scotland and rugby in our country. See you in June, Andy Irvine Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s Ambassador