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.

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.

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.

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.

Scott Cup
The winner of the Langholm Sevens receives the Scott Cup.

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 to 1920).

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, which was played with two halves of ten minutes each. After 20 minutes had expired with the score at 0-0, both captains and the referee agreed to play another two halves of ten minutes, which also ended without any score.

Following this, the captains and referee agreed to play under a 'golden try' rule: if either team scored a try, it would end the match, and the scoring team would win the match (and the competition).

After another five minutes, Jed-Forest fly-half Willie Scott touched down for a try to finally break the deadlock. The final had lasted a total of 45 minutes.

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. 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.

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

Past winners
• 2023 Kelso

• 2022  Jed-Forest

• 2021 no tournament - coronavirus pandemic

• 2020 no tournament - coronavirus pandemic

• 2019  Watsonians

• 2018  Watsonians

• 2017  Selkirk

• 2016  Watsonians

• 2015  Hawick

• 2014  Melrose

• 2013  Selkirk

• 2012  Hawick

• 2011  Jed-Forest

• 2010  Kelso

• 2009  Hawick

• 2008 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Newcastle Falcons

• 2007 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Newcastle Falcons

• 2006 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Newcastle Falcons

• 2005 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Newcastle Falcons

• 2004  Hawick

• 2003  Glasgow Hut. Aloysians

• 2002  Melrose

• 2001 Foot & Mouth Disease

• 2000  Hawick

• 1999  Melrose

• 1998  Gala

• 1997  Kelso

• 1996  Kelso

• 1995  GH Kelvinside

• 1994  Jed-Forest

• 1993  Gala

• 1992  Melrose

• 1991  Hawick

• 1990  Jed-Forest

• 1989  Jed-Forest

• 1988  Jed-Forest

• 1987  Jed-Forest

• 1986  Jed-Forest

• 1985  Hawick

• 1984  Hawick

• 1983  Stewarts Melville

• 1982  Hawick

• 1981  Kelso

• 1980  Hawick

• 1979  Stewarts Melville

• 1978  Boroughmuir

• 1977  Hawick

• 1976  Hawick

• 1975  Boroughmuir

• 1974  Kelso

• 1973  Hawick

• 1972  Gala

• 1971 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Headingley

• 1970  Gala

• 1969  Gala

• 1968 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Headingley

• 1967  Gala

• 1966  Hawick

• 1965  Stewart's College FP

• 1964  Gala

• 1963  Melrose

• 1962  Hawick

• 1961  Hawick

• 1960  Royal HSFP

• 1959  Langholm

• 1958  Hawick

• 1957  Stewart's College FP

• 1956  Hawick

• 1955  Hawick

• 1954  Heriots

• 1953  Royal HSFP

• 1952  Melrose

• 1951  Stewart's College FP

• 1950  Melrose

• 1949  Royal HSFP

• 1948  Stewart's College FP

• 1947  Melrose

• 1946  Hawick

• 1940-1945 Second World War

• 1939  Heriots

• 1938  Heriots

• 1937  Heriots

• 1936  Co-Optimists

• 1935  Heriots

• 1934  Kelso

• 1933  Melrose

• 1932  Hawick

• 1931  Kelso

• 1930  Kelso

• 1929  Edinburgh Accies

• 1928  Heriots

• 1927  Hawick

• 1926  Heriots

• 1925  Selkirk

• 1924  Gala

• 1923  Hawick

• 1922  Hawick

• 1921  Selkirk

• 1920  Jed-Forest

• 1919  Jed-Forest

• 1915-1918 First World War

• 1914  Hawick

• 1913  Hawick

• 1912  Hawick

• 1911  Hawick

• 1910  Gala

• 1909  Hawick

• 1908  Gala

Sponsorship
Edinburgh Woollen Mill are longstanding sponsors of the tournament.