Current Scotland 7s, Glasgow Hawks and former Warriors player Mike Adamson today hailed the launch of a new sevens series which will seek to increase participation in the game as part of the legacy programme for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Some of the country's top rugby sides will go head-to-head in a bid to be crowned champions of the first ever Legacy Sevens Series, which kicks-off at the Stirling County tournament at Bridgehaugh a week on Saturday (23 April).
The Legacy Sevens Series will also encompass Boroughmuir in Edinburgh (Friday 29 April) Howe of Fife in Cupar, Fife (Saturday 7 May) and Glasgow City (Saturday 14 May) and organisers hope the series will grow with more tournaments coming on board in the future. 
The overall winner will be the side that accumulates the most points across all four events, with double points being awarded at the Glasgow City Sevens. The Glasgow City Sevens is the final event in the series and is delivered in partnership between Cartha Queen’s Park Rugby Club and Glasgow Life on behalf of the city of Glasgow.
Rugby sevens is a core sport at the Commonwealth Games and has been identified as a key sport for development ahead of the Glasgow 2014 Games. It will also feature at the Youth Commonwealth Games on the Isle of Man this summer and is being re-admitted to the Olympic movement at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
The Legacy Sevens Series is backed by Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, Scottish Rugby and rugby clubs across Scotland. It will assist player development and increase awareness of rugby sevens ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Scottish rugby hero Kenny Logan, who played for both Stirling County and Glasgow Warriors, is a big supporter of rugby sevens and is backing the new Legacy Sevens Series to raise the sport’s profile.
Logan, who won 70 caps for Scotland, said: “Scotland is a proud nation when it comes to rugby. Whether you are at Murrayfield for a Six Nations clash, or at a club ground for a local match, the passion of our fans is something special.
“Rugby sevens is one the most exciting formats of the game. It is not only fantastic to play but fantastic to watch and I am sure it will be hugely popular with spectators when the Commonwealth Games come to Glasgow. It is great to see so many Scottish clubs work together to bring the sport to a wider audience as part of the new Series. That can only be good for our game.”
Mike Adamson, current member of the Scotland sevens squad, said: “As a Glasgow Hawks’ player and having had the privilege to represent Scotland sevens on the world stage, I’m absolutely delighted to hear of this initiative.
“In sevens individual skills are put under the microscope making it a great game to play in its own right but also in helping to enhance all your rugby skills in general.
“These individual tournaments are brilliant as stand-alone events but to bring them together in a series will certainly increase the appeal and underline the link to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow for players and supporters alike.”
Scottish Rugby, working in partnership with Glasgow Life through Glasgow’s Sports Development Legacy Programmes is ensuring that rugby is now being coached in over 100 schools across the city of Glasgow. The coaching initiative aims to raise the profile of rugby sevens in schools through training and inter-school competitions. Coach and teacher education and training opportunities are also being provided.
Glasgow City Council’s Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games, Councillor Archie Graham, said: “As we look towards the 2014 Commonwealth Games it is vital that we do all we can to help develop the stars of the future but also increase participation of sports such as rugby union at a grassroots level.
“Our support for the Legacy Sevens Series will also make sport more accessible to the public, which is a priority as we look towards the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. We want as many people as possible to come along and watch sevens in the run up to and including the Games.
“Added to this, Our Sports Development Legacy Programmes are also encouraging more young people to get involved in sports such as rugby. Combined, these projects will help ensure that we leave a lasting legacy for the city of Glasgow, a key aim of our Commonwealth Games programme.”
The Scoring system for the Legacy Sevens Series is as follows:
• 15 points for winning a tournament
• 10 points for reaching a final
• 7 points for reaching a semi-final
• 5 points for reaching a quarter-final
• 2 points for attending a tournament
• Double points will be awarded at the Glasgow City Sevens

This article was posted on 13-Apr-2011, 18:55 by Hugh Barrow.