Walkerburn’s centenary sevens gets green light
A HUGE community effort and overwhelming support from around the world has ensured that one of rugby’s oldest tournaments is set to go ahead – but its longterm future remains in doubt.
Walkerburn RFC announced last month it was closing its doors, and the 100th running of its annual sevens tournament would not go ahead.
But a rollercoaster few weeks, with widespread support and special Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) dispensation, has led to a late U-turn.
The organisers now believe it could be one of the tournament’s best ever editions since before professionalism, with more than 1,000 people expected to attend.
Tournament director, and former club president, Andrew Thoms, is upbeat.
The ex-Boroughmuir, Musselburgh and Stewartry loosehead, right, told The Rugby Paper: “We’re delighted the sevens centenary edition will go ahead.
“I was shocked, and really taken aback, when the news came out that the club was going to fold, as a huge number of people were.
“We knew the club had been struggling over the last few years, and had seen snippets of issues, but didn’t realise quite how bad things had got so it did feel like it came out the blue.
“I had stepped back five years ago, but it’s become apparent there’s been a problem with playing numbers for a few seasons, and it’s gradually been getting
worse while the number of people on the committee was diminishing, and everything was left to just a few people.”
Known as the ‘Prince of the 7s’, and taking place at the picturesque Caberston Haugh ground overlooking the River Tweed, the Walkerburn 7s is historically the Border 7s Circuit’s finale.
It will take place on Saturday, May 25, but whether Walkerburn gets to celebrate its 140th season come the Autumn remains uncertain.
Thoms, 61, added: “Some are unhappy the club’s issues went public, but the response has been overwhelming and it needed to happen.
“The weekend it was announced I was flying back from holiday in Leipzig and sat next to a guy on the plane from California. As soon as I said where I was from, he asked about Walkerburn, what’s going on, if he could help. And we’ve had similar messages from all around the world.
“One of my proudest achievements is having been president of Walkerburn, and a large group of us are passionate about not just letting it disappear into the annals of history.
“Over the summer we’ve got to sit down with various interested parties, nearby clubs, the council, SRU, and find a way to move forward, look at other uses for the facilities and a model. The club won’t survive if it’s just a XV.”
An SRU spokesman said: “It’s a sad and difficult situation, and it would be a real loss to lose Walkerburn. We’ve supported them with funding for the past two years and will continue to provide help.”