Borders rugby sevens season looking set to be hit for six by coronavirus again after second cancellation

The Borders’ annual rugby sevens season looks set to be hit for six by coronavirus again now a second tournament has been called off, with others sure to follow suit as spring approaches.
Melrose's Ethan McVicker, Keiran Clarke and Harri Morris at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnieMelrose's Ethan McVicker, Keiran Clarke and Harri Morris at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnie
Melrose's Ethan McVicker, Keiran Clarke and Harri Morris at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnie

Earlston Rugby Club this week became the first in the Borders to abandon plans for its 2021 sevens tournament – due to have been held on Sunday, May 2 – following a similar call-off at Langholm over in Dumfries and Galloway at the end of January.

Those cancellations have fuelled fears of another sevens season wipeout like last year, but other clubs are hedging their bets for now and eyeing up dates later in the summer in the hope that the current Covid-19 vaccine rollout will be well enough advanced by then to allow Scottish Government restrictions on mass gatherings and travel to be eased.

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Gala, for instance, have pushed back their event from April to Saturday, August 21, though they acknowledge that even that four-month postponement might not be enough to allow their sevens, scheduled to be part of a wider festival called Maroon’d @ Gala, to go ahead.

Edinburgh's Watsonians were the winners at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnieEdinburgh's Watsonians were the winners at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnie
Edinburgh's Watsonians were the winners at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnie

“The health of our friends, family and colleagues remains our priority, and while the changing landscape due to the coronavirus pandemic has made it impossible to organise activities with absolute certainty, we think the time is right to start planning for Maroon’d @ Gala in accordance with government guidance,” said a spokesman for the Galashiels club.

“We hope this announcement will be welcome after months of isolation and uncertainty, and if we can deliver Maroon’d on any level, we want to give ourselves the best opportunity to do so.”

Announcing their resolution to throw in the towel, a spokesman for the Earlston club said: “The committee of Earlston Rugby Club have taken the decision to formally cancel our planned sevens tournament due to be played on May 2.

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“Due to the current Covid restrictions in place and the likelihood that some type of restrictions will still be in place, there was really no chance that the sevens could go ahead as planned."

Melrose forward Ruaridh Knott scoring at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnieMelrose forward Ruaridh Knott scoring at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnie
Melrose forward Ruaridh Knott scoring at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnie

Club president Brian Turner added: “It is with great regret that our tournament is cancelled for the second year in a row, but our main priority has to be the health and safety of everyone involved.

“Earlston Sevens will return next year on its usual date of the Sunday before the bank holiday in May.”

For now, Peebles and Hawick, like Gala, have provisional dates in August pencilled in, though they are warning fans that their plans might have to be scrapped nearer the time.

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As things stand, though, the former’s sevens are lined up for Saturday, August 7, and the latter’s for a week later.

Earlston playing Gala at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnieEarlston playing Gala at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnie
Earlston playing Gala at 2019's Earlston Sevens. Photo: Bill McBurnie

Hawick’s sevens, like those at Gala and Peebles, are planned to be part of a two-day event, billed as the Borders Festival of Rugby, as it was in 2018 and 2019.

Starting the day before, Friday, August 13, it is, of course, subject to cancellation if Covid-19 cases remain high come the summer.

A spokesman for the Greens said: “We will of course be following all the updates on guidelines, but we have to start planning something to look forward to. If it changes, it changes.”

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A Peebles spokesman was equally cautious, saying: “Two years ago, we took the decision to move our annual sevens tournament from April to August. This allowed us to hold the main event on a Saturday and have a chance of some better weather.

“Last year's tournament was postponed due to the restrictions placed on all sports as a result of the pandemic.

“Moving forward to this year, we have decided to prepare for what may be the first competitive amateur rugby to take place in Scotland.

“We are rebranding the weekend as Peebles RFC Festival of Rugby.”

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Melrose, Berwick, Kelso, Selkirk and Jed-Forest have yet to declare their intentions for their tournaments this summer, but further cancellations would come as no surprise to any but the most optimistic of fans of the small-sided version of the game, invented in Melrose in 1883 by butcher Ned Haig.

The last round of the Kings of the 7s played was in Hawick in August 2019, that being round two of the 2019-20 contest.