Big names at city festival blending music and rugby

The boots are being laced and the volume turned up to maximum as the final preparations are made for a festival with a difference.

Rugby Rocks – a fusion of mass-participation sports and music – is to be held at Meggetland Sports Complex this weekend and the organisers hope to see a bigger scrum than ever.

Featuring big-name players including Scotland internationals Tim Visser and David Denton, the festival will play host to a seven-a-side tournament as well as hockey and touch rugby, live DJ sets and nightclub events.

The event will see enthusiasts given the chance to watch world cla The boots are being laced and the volume turned up to maximum as the final preparations are made for a festival with a difference.

Rugby Rocks – a fusion of mass-participation sports and music – is to be held at Meggetland Sports Complex this weekend and the organisers hope to see a bigger scrum than ever.

Featuring big-name players including Scotland internationals Tim Visser and David Denton, the festival will play host to a seven-a-side tournament as well as hockey and touch rugby, live DJ sets and nightclub events.

The event will see enthusiasts given the chance to watch world class rugby and rub shoulders with leading stars in the sport.

Former Edinburgh scrum-half Ross Samson, 24, from Trinity, helped bring the festival – first launched in London in 2010 – up to the Capital.

Ross, who now plays for London Irish, said: “Rugby Rocks will be a good chance for people in Edinburgh and beyond to see some really good rugby and teams that would never have come to Scotland if we had not had this tournament on.

“A couple of years ago, I 
decided Edinburgh lacked a real top quality sevens tournament.

“I was put in touch with the guys that launched Rugby Rocks down south and we thought this would be an exciting project to get involved in.

“Really the whole reason that we started this is because we wanted to engage everyone in a festival atmosphere – it’s really going to help build on the social side of the sport.”

The festival takes place over three days beginning this Friday.

Youngsters will have the opportunity to learn from professional players and – for those a little older – there will an after-party on the Saturday night at the Opal Bar to warm up for the next day’s events.

Ross said: “We’re will be having about 40 to 50 teams coming on the day. Last year we got between 1500 and 2000 people to attend and hopefully we are going to smash that this year. It’s going to be fun.”

For more information, visit the Rugby Rocks website at www.rugby rocks7s.com/edinburgh ss rugby and rub shoulders with leading stars in the sport.

Former Edinburgh scrum-half Ross Samson, 24, from Trinity, helped bring the festival – first launched in London in 2010 – up to the Capital.

Ross, who now plays for London Irish, said: “Rugby Rocks will be a good chance for people in Edinburgh and beyond to see some really good rugby and teams that would never have come to Scotland if we had not had this tournament on.

“A couple of years ago, I 
decided Edinburgh lacked a real top quality sevens tournament.

“I was put in touch with the guys that launched Rugby Rocks down south and we thought this would be an exciting project to get involved in.

“Really the whole reason that we started this is because we wanted to engage everyone in a festival atmosphere – it’s really going to help build on the social side of the sport.”

The festival takes place over three days beginning this Friday.

Youngsters will have the opportunity to learn from professional players and – for those a little older – there will an after-party on the Saturday night at the Opal Bar to warm up for the next day’s events.

Ross said: “We’re will be having about 40 to 50 teams coming on the day. Last year we got between 1500 and 2000 people to attend and hopefully we are going to smash that this year. It’s going to be fun.”

For more information, visit the Rugby Rocks website at www.rugby rocks7s.com/edinburgh