THREAT TO SCOTLAND’S SEVENS SLAMMED

THREAT TO SCOTLAND’S SEVENS SLAMMED

HOME OF SEVENS COULD BE CUT OUT OF COMPETITION

The threatened disappearance of Scotland’s Rugby Sevens team from
major international championships has been challenged by SNP MSP and
former Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell.

The International Rugby Board has indicated they will scrap the Rugby
Sevens World Cup – when the sport takes up its new place in the
Olympics – despite the World Cup providing a massive boost to Rugby's
profile through being broadcast in 200 countries.

As Scotland cannot compete as a team in its own right at the Olympics
without the World Cup Scotland will not have a premier international
tournament to compete in, despite inventing the game of Sevens.

Mr Maxwell is now demanding answers from the IRB and the SRU after the
Olympic Committee confirmed this decision was made by the Rugby board
and not a condition of Olympic participation.

Mr Maxwell said:

“Rugby Sevens deserves to be in the Olympics and I am glad it will be
one of the new sports from 2016, but this leaves Scotland’s Rugby
Sevens side out in the cold.

“The IRB seem determined to scrap the World Cup – taking away
Scotland’s right to compete as a Rugby Sevens team in a major
tournament. For this to happen to the country that invented the game
is unacceptable.

“When other sports compete in both the Olympics and a World event of
their own it seems ridiculous that Rugby Sevens should be any
different.

“Maintaining the Rugby Sevens World Cup would ensure, that until an
Independent Scotland can field her own team in the Olympics,
Scotland’s place on the world stage is secured.

“At the same time instead of fighting for a small share of TV and
sporting coverage with all the many sports at the Olympics, keeping
the Rugby Sevens World Cup ensures Rugby Sevens has an opportunity to
capture the public’s attention through the worldwide coverage that the
World Cup receives.

“The SRU must use their place in the IRB to stop this plan that will
push Scotland’s Sevens – the home of Sevens - off the world stage.”