THE long awaited 2022 Melrose 7s will be broadcast live to a worldwide audience on the Scottish Rugby website.

The traditional 26-team knockout tournament takes place on Saturday April 9 and coverage will start at 11:30am and go right through the afternoon, into the evening culminating in the final which is scheduled for 7:30pm.

A one-hour highlights show will be broadcast on FreeSports the following Tuesday.

FreeSports is the only free-to-air sports channel available in the UK and Ireland. Last year they were the broadcast partner to the FOSROC Super6 and are the sister company to Premier Sports who broadcast the United Rugby Championship (URC) and French Rugby’s Top 14.

The eight hours of live action on the Scottish Rugby website will be brought to you by the experienced commentary team of Stuart McFarlane and Bruce Millar.

Joining them in the commentary box throughout the day will be Pete Horne, Lee Jones, and John Dalziel.

On the announcement Melrose Sevens Tournament Director, Phil Morris, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to secure a broadcasting deal that will allow people to watch the Melrose Sevens live anywhere around the world, which is important for the profile of the event and this area, as it allows fans, sponsors and followers of our event and the visiting teams who cannot attend to watch and follow the action live or on the one hour highlights package.

Thank you to the Scottish Rugby, Scottish Borders Council and South of Scotland Enterprise for all their support in making this deal happen.”

Scottish Rugby Head of Group Sponsorship and Marketing, Toni Blackhurst said: “I’m delighted that we are able to support the broadcasting of the 2022 Melrose Sevens.  As Melrose Rugby are the founders of the game of rugby sevens, we recognise the importance that this event holds in the history of rugby in Scotland and indeed the world.

“It’s fantastic to be able to provide eight hours of live rugby sevens action on the Scottish Rugby website to a worldwide audience, with the experienced and knowledgeable commentary team I’m sure it will inspire many players to give the abbreviated form of the game a go.”