ASSURANCES NEEDED OVER INTERNATIONAL RUGBY SEVENS

ASSURANCES NEEDED OVER INTERNATIONAL RUGBY SEVENS

COUNTRY THAT INVENTED THE GAME MUST NOT BE BARRED FROM RUGBY SEVENS PREMIER EVENT

Following the news that Rugby Sevens has been accepted into the 2016 Olympic Games SNP MSP and former Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell called for assurances that this would not mean the end to a Scottish Sevens team competing in the world’s top tournament.

Scotland invented Rugby Sevens and the most famous Sevens game is still played at Melrose in the Scottish Borders every year.

The IRB have suggested that when Rugby Sevens is admitted to the Olympics the Seven’s World Cup would be brought to an end, resulting in Scotland being barred from the world’s premier Rugby Sevens tournament.

Commenting on the decision Stewart Maxwell MSP said:

“Recognition for Rugby Sevens at the Olympics is a great step but it must not lead to an end to the World Cup.

“If the Rugby Sevens World Cup is scrapped then Scotland – the country that invented the game and gave the game to the world, would find itself no longer able to enter into the sports showpiece event.

“We have seen with football that the IOC will not allow Scotland to compete as a country in her own right – despite our position in Football as in Rugby as a separate and internationally recognised sporting nation.

“If the IRB scrap the World Cup there will be no opportunity left for Scotland’s Sevens team to show their ability to the world in the sports number one event. Scotland must be allowed to compete at Rugby Sevens top tournament as to block our participation would be a tragedy for Scottish Rugby and a bizarre fate to befall the country that invented the game.”