Sevens scene in Scotland is under review, admits McKie

Published on Tuesday 4 January 2011 16:16

SCOTLAND gave the world the game of rugby sevens with its beginnings as a fundraiser at Melrose, and Ned Haig, the butcher credited with the idea, was recognised in several global awards in 2010.

• Scott Riddell on the attack for Scotland against France in the HSBC Sevens World Series in Dubai last month. The Scots won the Bowl in an IRB tournament in South Africa, but future involvement in such events is being reviewed. Picture: Getty

That version of the sport is set to boom across the world in the next decade but it remains doubtful whether its founding nation will play any meaningful part in that.

The Scottish Rugby Union agreed to play a host role in the IRB World Sevens Series from 2007-2011, but controversially opted not to locate at the Greenyards and tap into the rich history and traditions there and instead make Murrayfield its Scottish home. It made sense in terms of the facilities the national stadium had to offer, which players and officials regularly remark upon, but it is estimated that it will have cost the SRU over 1 million.

At a time of belt-tightening the SRU is currently examining the future of sevens in a strategic review, including whether to remain part of the circuit in whatever new guise the IRB agree for post-2011, and how to fund the team's participation on the world stage, having already cut the funding this year and sent a largely club team to the 2010-11 world series openers.

The focus globally is also now shifting to Rio de Janeiro in 2016, the first Olympic Games to have sevens rugby as one of its sports, and how nations qualify for that event. "It is a big issue for us," acknowledged Gordon McKie, the SRU chief executive. "We have found it very difficult to provide continuity in terms of a squad to compete in a series that is becoming more and more elite and high-professional.

"The strategic review is looking at whether we continue to host a tournament at Murrayfield, but it's complicated now with the Olympic status. Discussions are ongoing over whether the series becomes a tool for qualification for the Olympics and whether that would mean that we could no longer compete as an individual nation, but would have to go in under the 'Great Britain' banner, or should we play as a guest team that plays in some tournaments but not others?

"We are in until the end of this season and while it's still to be confirmed the word is that we'll be involved again in 2011-12.

"Of course we are very proud of the part Melrose and Scotland have played in developing sevens rugby and want to make everyone aware of that fact, but the sevens are also a great cause of frustration.That said, the guys who went out to Dubai and George did very well (winning the Bowl in George] because two-thirds were indeed club players. That was a great outcome considering they were new to the circuit."

McKie would not be drawn on what the strategic review might propose, insisting that there was still much work before that is published in January/February, and would not commit to any assurance on the future of the sevens team or Scotland as a host of a world sevens tournament. He did, however, reveal that an agreement for BBC Scotland to continue to screen the Melrose Sevens - which had become tied-up in a feud with BBC Network over coverage of the autumn Tests - was virtually sealed.

"We are still crossing the t's and dotting the i's with BBC Scotland," he said. "But we have reached a verbal agreement for them to televise the Melrose Sevens in 2011 and we hope that will continue for many years to come.

"It will still be the extent of their TV coverage of rugby in Scotland, which is disappointing because I'd like to see more club and Magners League rugby on BBC Scotland, but that still does not seem to fit in with how they see their programming.

"But BBC Scotland's radio coverage is great on Friday nights and Saturdays, and that is developing, which is very welcome, so we'll continue to work with them and push rugby's case. Melrose continues to show the attraction that does exist in Scottish club rugby and I'm delighted for the club, and thank them for their efforts in continuing to show some of the best attributes of the club game in Scotland."