Extra Edinburgh round being added to rugby’s Kings of the 7s
An 11th round is being added to this rugby season’s Kings of the 7s and it will be the first in the 32-year history of the competition to be held in Edinburgh.
An extra round in the capital has been mooted for years but it’s taken until now for it to become a reality.
It’s being hosted by Arnold Clark National League Division 1 side Edinburgh Academical at their Raeburn Place home ground on Saturday, May 30, and it will be this season’s finale, following seven days after 2026’s Melrose Sevens.
One of three rounds being played outwith the Borders, along with Berwick’s in Northumberland and Langholm’s in Dumfries and Galloway in April, it’s the first time the competition has been extended since its launch in its current format in 1994. It’s also the first tournament to be added to the wider Border sevens circuit since the arrival of Berwick Sevens back in 1983, as well as being the capital’s second-biggest celebration of the short-sided game this summer, behind July’s Edinburgh City 7s.
The introduction of Accies’ round takes the number being played in May to half a dozen, following Kelso’s on the 2nd, Earlston’s the day after, Selkirk’s on the 9th, Jed-Forest’s on the 16th and Melrose’s on the 23rd, all Saturdays except for Sunday the 3rd.
Unlike fellow Edinburgh outfit Watsonians – Kings of the 7s champions in 2009, 2017, 2018 and 2019 – Accies have never won the main contest, though they have won 13 individual tournaments hosted by current member clubs, three of them in the last seven years – Gala’s sevens in 2019, Berwick’s in 2023 and Jed’s last year.
They ended up on top at Netherdale seven years ago by seeing off Watsonians 21-10, going on to beat Melrose by 22-12 at Scremerston four years later and their hosts at Jedburgh by 40-14 last year.
A spokesperson for Accies, currently second in National 1 at XVs, level with table-toppers Stirling County on 57 points from 12 fixtures, said: “We are delighted to announce that Edinburgh Accies will host a new Kings of the 7s tournament at Raeburn Place in 2026.
“The tournament will be part of a new revamped Kings of the 7s format, with the new Edinburgh Sevens set to act as the final leg on May 30.
“The club have invested a significant amount of time and energy competing in the Kings of the 7s and have regularly been competing at the top end of the table for a number of years now.
“We have been very appreciative of the invitations to compete in the Kings over the years and we look forwards to returning the favour as we bring the famous competition to Edinburgh for a historic first.
“The club are already working hard to prepare for the tournament and we will work closely with Heriot’s and Watsonians to ensure it is a success for our local community and the Kings of the 7s.
“We have put in place a working group to get things started and are currently seeking a tournament director to oversee all rugby and commercial aspects of the event, as well as a main sponsor for the event.
“The tournament is a coup for the whole of Edinburgh and we would welcome anyone with any interest in rugby, sevens or just putting on an enjoyable community event to get involved. Contact us at [email protected] if you would like to help.”
One round into this season’s competition, played at Peebles last August, Accies are joint-third on the leaderboard, level with Peebles on five points after making it to the last four at the Gytes, losing out 17-17 to eventual winners Melrose.
Melrose, 10-5 victors against Kelso in that day’s final, are in pole position, on ten points, and Kelso are second, on seven.
Round two of the current competition and the first of 2026 takes place at Gala on Saturday, April 11.