PEEBLES will face an early kick off tomorrow as they get their 2016 Melrose Sevens campaign underway.

The Pees will face Boroughmuir at the world-famous tournament shortly before midday, with the winner of that clash facing Gala.

More than 10,000 rugby fans are expected to descend on Melrose throughout Saturday morning and early afternoon, and Peebles President Bob Hogarth has encouraged his side to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the day.

Speaking to the Peeblesshire News, he said: “It is always great to be involved in the Melrose Sevens. It's a highlight of the Scottish sporting calendar, isn't it?

“I know the players certainly enjoy occasion. There is a competitive element, of course. Being King of the Sevens is a big deal. But the emphasis is on fun.

"Whatever trials and tribulations you may have gone through as a team in the league campaign, for that afternoon you can park it.

“The players are relishing it, and are determined to give a good account of themselves.”

Those trials and tribulations he refers to are the loss of Division One status, after a brave battle against the drop.

Not that Hogarth is too downbeat. Reflecting on a difficult campaign, he said: “We didn't recover from our start.

"That's what ultimately did for us. Around Christmas time, we were dead and buried, but the one positive out of the campaign that I take is that we gave ourselves a chance in the way we performed in the last three months.

“Quite a few of our home games were five point victories, so that encourages me going forward to next season.

"It was the start, when we were riddled with injuries that nailed us. And we didn't have the couple of New Zealand props at the beginning either. They made a big impact to our season when they came in.

“But we got ourselves back in the mix. We didn't expect Aberdeen to beat Jed and things like that. You can't really legislate for results like that.

And he added: "After our start, we were relying on other results to go our way. We nearly did it, but in the end, we came up short. So we have to take that on the chin and get on with it.”