THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
Debt threat to Melrose world sevens hopes
DAVID FERGUSON AT THE GREENYARDS
THE Scottish Rugby Union's weighty pile of debt could jeopardise the IRB's plans to bring the world sevens circuit to Scotland for the first time next year.

The International Rugby Board's executive council will decide tomorrow whether or not to invite Scotland to put forward proposals to join the prestigious circuit of tournaments. Much planning has already gone into the proposal with a two-day event at Melrose, in June, 2007, set up as the new finale to the world sevens season, but the SRU could yet decline the invitation.

Syd Millar, the chairman of IRB, is in the vanguard of planned changes to the IRB world sevens series and admitted he could imagine no finer venue for a new tournament than the Greenyards.

"There is much to discuss on Tuesday, but what is not in question is that [Melrose] is the home of sevens and it's a wonderful place to come to enjoy the game," he said. "Sevens has given us great opportunities to grow rugby globally, and also help boost tourism and economies through rugby.

"Melrose has two things: it is the home of sevens and we wouldn't have to convince the Borders people that sevens is worth seeing. The Borders is also an absolute gem as far as tourism is concerned and so an event here would be great for attracting more visitors here and encouraging them to come back."

It is largely that projected benefit to the country's economy which has persuaded EventScotland, Scottish Enterprise Borders and Melrose RFC to embrace a world tournament "coming home" and honouring the vision of Ned Haig, the Borders butcher credited with inventing the game. The SRU, however, remain the major player and without their support we could have a situation in coming weeks of the IRB world series being offered to Scotland, but the union turning it down.

A debt of £23million still hangs over Murrayfield, despite the best efforts of David Mackay, Phil Anderton (former chairman and chief executive), Gordon McKie, the new chief executive, and a host of non-executive directors of successful business backgrounds. There has been a pledge of sorts to support the three professional teams, albeit on tight budgets, which means £5m continues to drop from the bank vault each year, before any 'savings' begin.

Fred McLeod, one of Murrayfield's most experienced rugby characters, was enthusiastic about the positive noises emanating from the IRB, but also keen to rein in expectations that Melrose would join the global stage in 2007.

"There is no doubt it would be great to have world sevens here, in Melrose and in Scotland," he insisted. "But, we are all aware of the financial hurdles we have in Scottish rugby, and so we must sit down and work out the finances properly before deciding whether we can go ahead.

"Nothing would please me more than to be able to give the green light to the world sevens coming here, but a decision will not be reached overnight on this."

A first-ever win for Newcastle Falcons in the weekend's main event may have enhanced the tournament's appeal south of the border, however, and with the new Melrose event planned to follow Twickenham to bring the curtain down on the 2007 world series that could attract broadcast interest. The Falcons team always looked title-winning material. The pace and defensive organisation of the well-schooled, mainly full-time youngsters stood out in comfortable wins over Ayr, Watsonians and Boroughmuir en route to a final with Heriot's. The Goldenacre side had edged out other guest sides Oxford University and the free-spirited Shimlas from Orange Free State University in South Africa in exciting quarter and semi-final ties.

Ironically, one of Newcastle's stars was Andrew Skeen, the Edinburgh-born fly-half.

He scored the first try of the final, with his trademark chip-and-chase, but Heriot's Fijian star Apolosi Satala responded and John Houston, arguably the player of the tournament, put Heriot's ahead with a great dive into the left-hand corner. Mark Laycock edged Newcastle 14-12 ahead at half-time, but another rising star, Scott Newlands, scored on the restart and Heriot's were back in front. Eni Gesinde, the Newcastle skipper, hit back and The final was finely-poised at 21-17, moving into the last minutes.

Appearing in their first final since 1985 Heriot's were tiring - they had played one more tie than the Falcons. And their hearts were broken when Ollie Phillips superbly broke from inside his own half for a fine tournament-winning try to make the final score 28-17.

Newcastle: E Williamson, S Mackie, T Vesser, M Laycock, A Skeen , C Johnson, O Phillips, E Gesinde (capt), S Manners, R Smyth.

Heriot's: A Satala, N Neikle, S Newlands, C Goodall (capt), J Thompson, J Houston, M Teague, R Ebdy, M Goldie.

Referee: A Ireland (Boroughmuir).

Results
First round: Selkirk 7, Gala 12; Peebles 0, Glasgow Hawks 17; Kelso 12, Hawick 17 (aet); Heriot's 21, Langholm 12.

Second round: Watsonians 36, Gala 0; Ayr 12, Newcastle 39; Jed-Forest 19, Glasgow Hawks 10; Boroughmuir 21, Melrose 12; Biggar 22, Hawick 17; Currie 7, Shimlas 31; Stewart's Melville 0, Heriot's 41; Scottish Thistles 22, Oxford University 24.

Third round: Watsonians 5, Newcastle 35; Jed-Forest 7, Boroughmuir 24; Biggar 10, Shimlas 26; Heriot's 31, Oxford University 26.

Semi-finals: Newcastle 26, Boroughmuir 14; Shimlas 19, Heriot's 20.

Final: Newcastle 28, Heriot's 17.

This article was posted on 10-Apr-2006, 07:21 by Hugh Barrow.