While the emphasis of our Vision Scotland sponsorship of Hearts+Balls Mighty Bovs (HBMBs) rugby is our logo on the front of the team jersey, we’re equally invested in supporting the side during their competitive season – and that’s coming into focus right now!
We had a chat with the teams’ head coach, Andy Whitelaw, to find out a bit more about sevens rugby, what the upcoming tournaments have in store and the importance of our branding on these distinctive pink shirts.
“Sevens rugby is very much seasonal,” he explains. “All our players represent their own club fifteen-a-side game throughout the year with involvement in HBMBs covering a few months during late spring into summer.
“Players put themselves up for selection. We’re looking for ten to twelve players that can, if asked, do a job in the scrum, then jump into the back line, to keep it simple, rather than complicate things. It’s an opportunity for these players to express themselves in the more free-flowing sevens’ games, whereas they may get lost on a fifteens’ pitch.”
Andrew and team manager Dylan Russell start planning in January which tournaments they will be entering teams into, put word out to players via a sports’ app, then people let them know if they’re keen to be involved.
“However we realise life gets in the way and the prolonged Scottish Rugby season is a challenge, so some players might get tied up in fifteens, to finish league fixtures or be involved in a Cup run.
“If there’s an occasion where there are more players than squad numbers allowed, that’s when discussions happen within our leadership group. Dylan and I sit in the middle and listen to the pros and cons of all the players, and squads get selected from there.”
Unlike the fifteen-a-side game, sevens’ rugby has the emphasis firmly on that reduced number – teams comprise seven players on the full-size pitch at one time, competing in seven-minute halves, resulting in a more free-flowing, faster-paced game.
This season, HBMBs are competing in eight tournaments, across Scotland and into Europe, involving both men’s and women’s sides.
“We kick off on 19 April in the Edinburgh Northern Men’s tournament, then we move to Kirkcaldy – with competitions for men and women – followed by another joint event at Whitecraigs,” Andrew continues. “Then we have our first international trip to Paris. Now the teams attending there have been released…it’s going to be a challenge! Some are Top 14 sides – Bordeaux and Stade Francis aligned teams – so it’s going to be some competition!
“The Paris event is midweek then we fly back for a tournament in Perth on the Saturday,” he continues. “This is where we must be mindful around player welfare. We don’t want these players overworked – even though there are players who are so committed they would put their hand up for every single tournament!
“We’re fortunate to have incredible squad depth – 66 players on the books just now – more than some of the grassroots rugby clubs! It shows we’re there to be competitive and it’s also a friendly environment which people want to be part of.”
Following Perth, the women’s team have then been invited to take part in the world-famous Melrose 7s, the third time the side have competed, having just missed out on the trophy in ‘golden time’ (extra time) on their first visit.
“Just to be invited to the founding tournament of the sevens game is unique,” adds Andrew. “We pride ourselves, within the women’s game, that we are the top, non-professionally aligned sevens team in Scotland.
“This year we’ll be up against the Shogun team [who won last year], Loughborough Lightening and a Harlequins women’s team – so they’ll probably be filled with pro players.”
The next event, for men and women, is the GHA 7s, before the men’s team compete at Amsterdam 7s in late May, then the season rounds off with the Edinburgh City 7s in July.
“We field three teams there, two men’s and one women’s side. Our women are defending champions – we always put on a good show and demonstrate why we’re the predominant team within women’s sevens.”
That good show demonstrates a number of skills not necessarily predominant in the fifteen-a-side game, as Andy explains.
“In sevens rugby you’ll see people launching twenty-five metre passes, running a hundred metres then jogging back to halfway after they’ve scored, going again and again.
“For example, a few years ago, we took part in a tournament in Hamilton, playing against a Marr side who were absolutely stacked – including brothers who had played international sevens for Scotland, and Premiership level players. It was a knockout match, and we turned them over!
“Teams come after us because of the calibre of players we attract, and we thrive on that. We encourage everyone to come and watch. It’s a fun day out and, as we always say, anything can happen in sevens!”
Spectators will have no difficulty picking out those distinctive pink jerseys, despite the speed of play, however.
“This is the third year we’ve had Vision Scotland as front of shirt sponsors,” Andrew begins. “By coincidence, I used to teach Dr Jonathan Ross’ son and daughter at their school in the Borders – it’s strange how paths converge in rugby!
“It’s a brand which has really exploded – now you see Vision Scotland as a shirt sponsor of Edinburgh Rugby and I’m so proud that they’re on our shirts too.
“When we go international, we’re usually the only Scottish representative team and we have a jersey featuring such a major brand, which says Scotland, on the front. It does give our team so much pride.”
