When the 2011 Melrose Sevens kicks off in Scotland at 11:30 tommorrow, defending champions Hamiltons will be hoping fortune favour the Cape town club again this year.
South Africans teams have a rich history to the world’s oldest Sevens tournament.
Hamiltons won there in 2010, while the University of Johannesburg (UJ) were victorious in 2009. Other Saffa winners include University of the Orange Free State (Shimlas) (2007) and Stellenbosch University (2004 & 2005).
Dr Syd Millar, the former Ireland international and IRB chairman wrote in the official tournament program:
“As we gather at Melrose for the oldest Rugby Sevens tournament in the world, the phenomenal journey that began here well over a century ago is entering a new and exciting phase with the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 set to shape Rugby Sevens for generations to come.”
A good mate of BlitzBokke.com former WP and Stormers paceman Egon Seconds is currently in Scotland with Hamilton. He wrote the following on his blog:
What I have to admire is that Melrose still uses the old school method, that the first few days of the week leading up to the tournament, families hosts 2 players per family. some guys staying with families that they were with last year, others gets to meet a new one.
That is what adds to making this game of Rugby such a global sport where you get to meet so many different people and build the oddest friendships.
You can read Egon’s account of the Melrose Sevens by clicking here
Rugby 7s was founded in Melrose in 1883.
Catch Egon Seconds and Martin Myers on TheTaxi.co.za
Hamilton’s Jandre Mac-Du Plessis and Egon Mac-Seconds ahead of the Melrose Sevens
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