Langholm Sevens

Langholm Sevens is an annual rugby sevens event held by Langholm RFC, in Langholm, Scotland. The Langholm Sevens was the last of the Border Sevens tournaments to be instated in 1908.[1]

Langholm Sevens
SportRugby sevens
Instituted1908
Number of teams16
Country Scotland
Holders Watsonians (2019)
Most titles Hawick (29 titles)
Related competitionKings of the Sevens

Held around the end of every April, the tournament is part of the Kings of the Sevens competition. 2019's Langholm Sevens took place on 27 April.[2]

Sports Day

Langholm first introduced a Sports Day - as it was originally called - on 16 October 1886; and rugby union seven a sides were played then. Two local teams met; from the firms of James Scott and Sons of Waverley Mills and Hotson the Builders. James Scott and Sons won the match.[3]

However it wasn't until 1908 that Langholm RFC decided that they should hold an annual Sports Day and thus the Sevens tournament today dates from then. Eight teams from the Borders were invited to play on 1 May 1908.[3]

Scott Cup

The winner of the Langholm Sevens receives the Scott Cup.[4]

The Scott Cup was first presented to the winners in 1930. It was presented by Tom Scott; the first Langholm RFC player to be capped internationally by Scotland (in 1896), and the first Border man to be president of the Scottish Rugby Union (from 1914-1920). [3]

Longest match in Sevens history

The final of the 1920 Langholm Sevens is understood to be the longest match in Sevens history. Jed-Forest played Edinburgh Wanderers in that match.

The teams played two halves of ten minutes each - that ended without a score for either side. After this they agreed to play another two halves of ten minutes each to try and resolve a winner. This also ended without a score. Finally the teams agreed to play to a 'golden try' rule; with the first try scored ending the match and so determine a winner. After another 5 minutes the deadlock was finally broken when the Jed-Forest fly-half Willie Scott touched down for a try.

The final lasted a whopping 45 minutes in total.[5]

Invited Sides

Various sides have been invited to play in the Langholm Sevens tournament throughout the years. The Barbarians entered in a side in 1972, reaching the final. The Scotland 7s side was invited in 2000.[6] Loughborough Colleges reached the final in 1995, losing out to Glasgow High Kelvinside. Aspatria reached the final in 1990. London Scottish reached the final in 1993.[7]

Of the English sides so far invited, only Newcastle Falcons and Headingley have won the Scott Cup.

Past winners

Sponsorship

Edinburgh Woollen Mill are longstanding sponsors of the tournament.[17]

See also

References
  1. "BBC - A Sporting Nation - The first Melrose Sevens match 1883". www.bbc.co.uk.
  2. "Sevens Season gets going". Watsonians RFC.
  3. "A Centenary of Sevens at Milntown". www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk.
  4. "Langholm 7s - Kings of the 7s".
  5. Griffiths, John. "Queens House RFC, Brian Lima, the Heineken Cup Final and Sevens". ESPN scrum.
  6. "Langholm Rugby Football Club". homepages.enterprise.net.
  7. "Langholm - Kings of the 7s".
  8. "Watsonians renew Ned Haig title challenge after Langholm win". Peeblesshire News.
  9. Team, The Offside Line (29 April 2018). "Watsonians close in on Kings of the 7s title with win at Langholm". The Offside Line.
  10. www.dng24.co.uk, DnG24- (1 May 2015). "Hawick lift Scott Cup at EWM Langholm sevens".
  11. "Selkirk win Scott Cup - News - Langholm Rugby Club". www.pitchero.com.
  12. "Gutsy Greens turn on Milntown magic to secure Langholm title". www.hawick-news.co.uk.
  13. "Riverside Park men look to spoil Langholm's big day by going all-out to retain Scott Cup". www.berwick-advertiser.co.uk.
  14. "LANGHOLM SEVENS". old.glasgowhawks.com.
  15. "10-try romp as Gala crush 'Rose". HeraldScotland.
  16. "Stewart's Melville RFC".
  17. "LANGHOLM 7's- sponsored by EWM - News - Langholm Rugby Club". www.pitchero.com.
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