Riverside gets ready to rock as sevens circuit draws to a close

Gala have already won the AM/PM Event Catering Kings of the Sevens title, but the race is on for second, third and fourth place between Borders rivals Hawick, Melrose and Jed-Forest.

Not to mention those all-important bragging rights of lifting the last trophy of the season.

Mainetti managing director Jim Hutchison, whose company is sponsoring the event for the third consecutive year, is looking forward to seeing if Jed-Forest can lift their own trophy for the 12th time.

“I hope that all the guests will have an enjoyable day, whoever they support, and that the tournament produces a memorable finale to the annual sevens circuit,” he added.

Sevens convener Jim Thomson is looking forward to welcoming the 15 other Scottish club sides to Riverside Park.

He told The Southern: “I sincerely hope that our tournament will be a fitting finale for all in what has been a long season for everyone, players, officials, committees and, most importantly, supporters and spectators.”

The sponsors’ marquee at the north end of Riverside will be well attended as usual by sponsors and their guests who can relax and enjoy the atmosphere, not to mention the excellent food (and drink). As usual, the popular beer tent at the town end will no doubt be in full swing with music all day and night.

For spectators in the ground, Kings of the Sevens sponsors AM/PM Catering will be on hand to serve the hungry throughout the day and onwards till late.

The after-sevens dance in the marquee sees live band Desilva take the stage, with Spectrum disco on hand as usual.

Riverside will also be welcoming later in the afternoon the Travel Channel from the USA, who are in the Borders filming for their programme Watts World which features Nick Watt, now in LA, but originally from Melrose, to show their viewers some sevens rugby.

Jed president Roy Laidlaw said: “I look forward to welcoming everyone to Riverside Park and am delighted that Mainetti UK are once again our sevens sponsor and that they and club sponsor RJT, and all the other sponsors and supporters in the marquee and around the ground, have a most enjoyable day.”

Also in the marquee this year, celebrating a 40th anniversary, are most of the winning seven from 1975 who won the Jed cup after a gap of 53 years. The same team had lifted the Melrose cup the year before, thus ending many long years playing sevens without winning a trophy.

President Laidlaw also congratulated Gala, who claimed the 2015 Kings title after winning their quarter-final at the Selkirk event last week.

“Gala have been the most consistent team in the AM/PM Kings of the Sevens this season with their power, pace and strength in depth.

“They will pick up the trophy today for the first time in 11 years following an impressive sevens season. Well done Gala.”

This year’s chosen charity at the Mainetti Jed-Forest Sevens is Cash for Kids and there will be collections around the ground throughout the afternoon.