Cala Melrose Sevens - Saturday 8th April
Top Teams coming to the Greenyards for CALA Melrose Sevens

CALA Homes is delighted to announce their sponsorship of the 116th world famous CALA Melrose Sevens on Saturday 8th April.

One of the country’s most successful developers, CALA is title sponsor of the Melrose Sevens for the second year running. Gerry More, Managing Director, CALA Homes (East) Limited looks forward to the world-class tournament saying: “Following Scotland’s recent victory in the Calcutta Cup, interest in rugby is at an all time high and we are delighted to be continuing our association with the Melrose Sevens. Last year’s tournament was spectacular entertainment, particularly the nail-biting final which was the equal of anything I have seen at Murrayfield.

“Since last year’s tournament, CALA has begun work on developments in Cardrona Village and Peebles so it is particularly apt that we are able to support such a well loved regional event.”

Top southern hemisphere Club UNIVERSITY of ORANGE FREE STATE from Bloemfontein in South Africa is set to compete in the 116th playing of the World famous Melrose Sevens on 8th April, where they will be joined by NEWCASTLE FALCONS from England’s Zurich Premiership and OXFORD UNIVERSITY.

Sponsorship

Melrose President Jim Doyle said earlier to day “the Club is grateful to CALA for their continuing support and values greatly our relationship with this progressive company. The financial support they provide goes along way to keeping our tournament as the acknowledged Blue Riband of the sevens game”

UNIVERSITY of ORANGE FREE STATE will be making their first appearance at the home of Rugby Sevens. They will be trying to keep the trophy in South Africa following Stellenbosch University’s dramatic victory over the hosts in last year’s final in front of a capacity crowd. The UNIVERSITY of ORANGE FREE STATE is one of South Africa’s oldest universities, celebrating its centenary in 2004. Free State Cheetahs won the 2005 Currie Cup under Naka Drotske, an alumnus of UNIVERSITY of ORANGE FREE STATE. The University has provided many Springboks, including Andre Joubert, James Dalton and the current scrum half, Michael Claassens. The former Proteas cricket captain, Hansie Cronje, was educated at UNIVERSITY of ORANGE FREE STATE.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS plan to field a top-quality development side in their second appearance at Melrose Sevens, having been beaten by the hosts in a thrilling quarter-final last year. The Falcons are no strangers on the Borders Sevens circuit having won several of the tournaments in recent years.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY make a welcome return to the Greenyards after an absence of ten years. OXFORD UNIVERSITY has been a breeding ground for a number of international players, including Scotland’s Simon Danielli and Ireland’s David Humphreys.


THE SCOTTISH THISTLES, finalists in 2003 and semi-finalists last year will also return together with Scottish Clubs GALA, HAWICK, JEDFOREST, KELSO, LANGHOLM, PEEBLES, SELKIRK, BOROUGHMUIR (Winners in 2002), CURRIE, HERIOTS, WATSONIANS, STEWARTS MELVILLE, AYR, BIGGAR, GLASGOW HAWKS. Hosts MELROSE complete the 20-team draw.

Melrose’s Sevens Convener, Ian Cooper, says he is delighted at the calibre of the sides his Committee has been able to attract to this year’s tournament. “With UNIVERSITY OF ORANGE FREE STATE eager to match the achievements of Stellenbosch in the past, together with strong sides from Oxford University and Newcastle Falcons I feel that they and any one of a dozen other sides are capable of going all the way, I believe we can look forward to yet another outstanding afternoon of exciting, top quality Sevens rugby. I’d like to thank our sponsor CALA Homes for their support.”

Prize Money

Prize money will again be on offer with the coveted Ladies Centenary Trophy and £5,000 going to the tournament winners; the Sanderson Salver and £3,000 to the runners-up; £700 to each of the losing semi-finalists, and £300 to each of the 4 defeated quarter-finalists. The Tournament will also feature in the Border Clubs “Kings of the Sevens” competition.

Tournament Officials

The 116th CALA Melrose Sevens will be supervised by a team of 6 top Scottish referees – Rob Dickson, Ian Ramage, Andy Ireland, John Steele, David Changleng and Malcolm Changleng, supported by 8 touch-judges and in-goal-area judges to be appointed by the Borders Referees Society Appointments Panel from qualified referees from within the Borders area.

Junior Coaching Clinic

The Melrose Club will again host their popular Junior Coaching Clinic, now in its 19th year, on the forenoon of the Sevens. The Clinic is set to attract some 100 youngsters under age 14 from Club’s throughout Scotland who will be put through their paces by some of Scotland’s top coaches under the direction of Jim Telfer.

The youngsters will be entertained to lunch and attend the Sevens as guests of the Club.

Youth Rugby

For the fourth year since being introduced in 2003, the Club will fill the slot between the second semi-final of the tournament and the final with Youth Rugby. All the participants will be from Primary Schools in the Earlston High School catchment area where coaching is provided by Melrose Club officers. Two games will be played concurrently – one between Primary 6 pupils from Berwickshire schools against those from Roxburghshire schools, and the other between Primary 7 pupils from the same 2 groups. The event is organised and will be supervised by the Club’s Youth Development Officer, Ross Miller.
Led by Paula Chalmers from Melrose, the Scottish Ladies rugby squad will parade the trophy that they won in Dubai earlier in the Season

This article was posted on 5-Apr-2006, 09:17 by Hugh Barrow.