page_title: History of rugby union in Scotland
section_title: Invention of Rugby Sevens
hierarchical_section_title: History of rugby union in Scotland / Invention of Rugby Sevens
caption_attribution_description: The Greenyards, w:Melrose. w:Melrose RFC's ground lies in the shadow of the mighty and mysterious Eildon Hills. The Greenyards is most famous as the host of the first ever 7-a-side rugby tournament in 1883, the abbreviated game having been invented by Ned Haig, a local butcher. The Melrose Sevenss, played on the second Saturday in April every year, remains the most popular Scottish 7's tournament.
context_page_description: Rugby union in Scotland in its modern form has existed since the mid-19th century. As with the history of rugby union itself however, it emerged from older traditional forms of football which preceded the codification of the sport. In the same manner as rugby union in England, rugby union in Scotland would grow at a significant rate to the point where Scotland played England in the first ever rugby union international in 1871, a match which was won by the Scottish team.
  In 1883, Scotland would become a founding member of the annual Home Nations Championship with England, Wales and Ireland, and since its creation in 1987 have competed in every Rugby World Cup. Scotland took part in co-hosting the 1991 Rugby World Cup, alongside the rest of the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. The governing body of rugby union in Scotland, Scottish Rugby Union, is the second oldest organisation of its kind, having been founded in 1873.
context_section_description: Scotland has played a seminal role in the development of rugby, notably in 
  Rugby sevens, which were initially conceived by Ned Haig, a butcher from Jedburgh, Scotland as a fundraising event for his local club Melrose in 1883. The first ever officially sanctioned international tournament of rugby occurred at Murrayfield as part of the "Scottish Rugby Union's celebration of rugby" centenary celebrations in 1973. Due to the success of the format, the ongoing Hong Kong Sevens was launched three years later. In 1993, the Rugby World Cup Sevens was launched and the trophy is known as the Melrose Cup in memory of Ned Haig's invention.
caption: Nestling beneath the shadow of the Eildon Hills, the Greenyards at Melrose in Scotland is the original home of rugby sevens
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