As founders of seven-a-side rugby, Melrose Rugby Football Club will celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the abbreviated game at their Tournament (The Sevens) on 12th April 2008.

Melrose RFC is delighted to acknowledge the sponsorship agreement reached with J S Crawford for the 125 Youth Sevens Tournament. Support for grass roots rugby is critical to the future success of the game and it is particularly pleasing to receive this from such a well known and respected local company.

Michael J Crawford, Director of J.S. Crawford 3rd Generation ltd said:

"After all the negativity surrounding Scotland's performance in the six nations it is with great delight that I am able announce some good news.
J.S. Crawford 3rd Generation have agreed to sponsor the under 16 7's competition as part of MRFC 125 celebrations. This tournament will be played on Friday 11th April with the final played between the semi final and final of the main completion on the Saturday.
J.S. Crawford 3rd Generation, as an indigenous border's business, are committed to this area and its way of life. Rugby Football is the foremost sport in the Borders and our commitment to the fostering of this great game is the Melrose Rugby Academy which we have been supporting for the last 3 years and the sadly now defunct Border Reivers U16 tournament. It is logical that we must support this exciting new completion which will provide an opportunity for all rugby supporters to see the up and coming rugby talent from across the UK and Ireland. In hosting the final on sevens day it provides the opportunity for 14 young lads to play in front of a crowd of 15,000 people which is being televised around the world.
We believe that youth sport needs to be fostered; kids need recognition and the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents. This event will give them this opportunity, and we trust they will enjoy the occasion, and provide a spectacle of free flowing uninhibited seven a side rugby."

To mark this historic occasion, the Club will be holding a number of additional events around The Sevens. As part of this celebration, it is intended to hold a Youth Seven-a-side Tournament on Friday 11th April. The Youth Tournament will be for the Under 16 age group and invitations are extended to clubs and school teams from around the United Kingdom and abroad.

The Sevens attracts extensive media coverage and sponsorship to make it one of the main sporting highlights of the Scottish rugby calendar. April 2008 will see an extended festival of rugby and social events from Thursday 10th through to Sunday 13th April.

This will be a great opportunity for young, up and coming, age group players to participate in a major seven-a-side tournament, to showcase the future of rugby through their talents and be part of tomorrow’s history. The youngsters will also have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere that is generated by the 12,000 or so spectators who, year in year out, find their way to The Greenyards, which is one of the most picturesque and atmospheric grounds, situated in the heart of the beautiful Scottish Borders countryside.

The group stages of the tournament will consist of 16 teams, in four groups of four, thus guaranteeing 3 games to each participating team. The winners of each group will then progress to contest the semi finals. The Final of the Youth tournament will take place between the last semi-final and the final of the main, Melrose Sevens 125 Tournament, on Saturday 12 April.

The Youths Tournament will run in parallel with a Vets Tournament, on pitches that are close to Melrose RFC clubrooms, at the Greenyards and close to the Sevens "Greenyards" Tented Village. The Village will provide quality food and refreshment outlets, as well as superb entertainment over the weekend of the 125 Event.

The Youth Tournament, along with all the other planned activities, will create a very special atmosphere over the 3 days of celebration for the 125th Anniversary of "Melrose Sevens" and Seven-A-Side rugby.

We look forward to seeing you, whether it be participating in the Youths Tournament or purely supporting the youngsters and all activities going on around the "Sevens".

If you would like more information about participating in the Youth Tournament or any other aspects of the Melrose 125 Anniversary, then please contact youth@melrose7’s.com, or call Mike Aitken on 01896 822005 for an informal chat about the events.