Students step up after Welsh club pull out of Melrose Sevens
Pontypridd have pulled out of this month’s Melrose Sevens but Kings of the 7s regulars Durham University have been drafted in to take their place.
The Welsh Admiral Premiership outfit were one of eight teams set to contest a four-tie first round at the Greenyards tournament on Saturday, May 23, but it will now be the County Durham students going up against Edinburgh’s Currie Chieftains, with a second-round tie versus another capital city club, Boroughmuir, at stake.
Durham Uni are no strangers to the KIngs of the 7s circuit, having contested this season’s last three rounds after missing the opening four.
They made it to the quarter-finals at Saturday gone’s Selkirk Sevens, going out 17-12 to Melrose after seeing off a president’s seven 31-12 in round one.
The Sunday prior, they reached the final at Earlston Sevens, again losing to Melrose, that time by 12-7. That followed wins by 26-7 versus Edinburgh Academical in the semi-finals, 17-12 against Kelso in the last eight and 34-7 versus Langholm in round one.
The day before that, they lost 35-12 to Melrose in their pool at Kelso Sevens but beat Selkirk 21-14
Announcing this month’s switcheroo, a Melrose Sevens spokesperson said: “Pontypridd were announced earlier in the line-up but unfortunately can no longer make this year’s tournament.
“We thank them and hope to welcome them back in the future.
“We’re delighted to welcome back Durham University, who return to the Greenyards having last competed here in 2024.
“Founded in 1875 and coming to the end of their 150th anniversary celebrations, Durham are one of the most successful university rugby programmes in the UK and will be ready to make their mark once again at the home of sevens.”
Melrose’s tournament is the tenth and second-last round of this season, the finale following seven days later at Accies’ Raeburn Place ground in the capital.