THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
DAVID FERGUSON

GLASGOW Hawks have changed tack from ignoring pre-season sevens tournaments to help support Selkirk RFC\'s centenary celebrations.

The Philiphaugh club officially launch their 100th year next Friday night in a match against Cardiff, with the Centenary Season Sevens being played two days later, on Sunday 20 August. Hawks, the reigning Scottish Division 1 champions, have been among a host of non-Borders clubs to shy away from the traditional pre-season events at Kelso - staged tomorrow - and Selkirk in favour of gearing up for the full league season with XV-a-side friendlies.

However, with the help of past-president Bert Duffy\'s persuasiveness, Selkirk have managed to convince Hawks as well as Scottish Cup winners Watsonians, Boroughmuir, Heriot\'s and Cardiff to compete alongside the Scottish Thistles, the Royal Scots Borderers and nine Border clubs.

Kenny Hamilton, the Hawks chairman, said: \"We were asked by Bert if we would support the centenary and there was a big feeling that we should, from the club and players particularly. It is a difficult time of year for us and because of the time it takes now to get players together and get geared up for the championship, which means a lot to us obviously, we have had to decline invites to Kelso and Selkirk in the past.

\"We don\'t tend to get invited any more, which is understandable, but Selkirk made a point of asking us and we felt we should make the effort. We have Heriot\'s away from home the week after - and Hawks supporters will remember the thumping we got at Goldenacre last season - but we are working at ensuring all our new boys fit in and are ready for the start of the XVs season and will look to use the tournament to sharpen our skills ahead of the league kick-off.\"

Hamilton added that he was a fan of sevens and even believed there was scope for looking at a pre-season block of sevens for players to hone their skills ahead of the league championship, with play-offs and cup finals taking over in April.

Borders clubs, who stage their sevens in April and May, would struggle with that, while Kelso would laugh at the suggestion such has been their difficulty in attracting leading sides to Poynder Park in mid-August.

Biggar are late withdrawals this year, but Melrose could find themselves against tougher opposition in the guise of a President\'s VII made up of the best players from the first round losers.

This article was posted on 11-Aug-2006, 07:20 by Hugh Barrow.