ALL live sport in the Borders was cancelled last weekend due to the weather.
But there was no such problem for Gala man Craig Dods who, along with former Scotland captain Bryan Redpath, led the FORSOC Steelers invitational team at the Dubai Sevens.
The specialist skills coach at Scottish Rugby recently took Team Scotland to an historic gold medal at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
And he was hoping to do likewise in Dubai, but it was not to be in the 29°C degree temperature.
Dods’ squad included former Gala and Southern Knights player Harris Rutherford along with Selkirk's Callum Anderson who has been an influential figure in the Kings of the Sevens tournament.
They were joined by fellow Scots Fraser Lyle, scrum-half Harry Bone and winger Ross McKnight.
Also included were Fiji Sevens internationals Kavekini Tabu and Anare Tuitai; New Zealanders Fletcher Morgan and Lucas Casey; Australian winger Taqele Naiyaravoro; Welsh forward Ioan Rhys Davies; and Japan Sevens international Lote Tuqiri.
Scot Murray Redpath was ruled out of the competition due to injury.
The tournament started with an impressive 35-19 victory over Euskarians on day one. The Steelers' tries came from McNight x2, Tuitai, Tabu and Anderson. Morgan kicked all five conversions.
On day two, however, the Steelers' fortunes changed and they found themselves 19-0 down at half time to the Froggies Club.
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Dods’ men responded with a spirited second-half comeback, scoring tries through Casey, Tuitai and McNight, but the Froggies won the match 24-19.
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This was followed by a 21-12 defeat to Germany with Tuitai and Naiyaravoro notching the tries.
That meant a quarter final tie against Ireland which ended in a 20-14 defeat. McKnight and Naiyaravoro were the try scorers.
Defeat meant a semi-final place in the Plate event which the Steelers lost to Speranza 22 by 38-7. Tuitai scored GB's try.
Speranza 22 went on to win the plate and Germany won the tournament, beating Georgia 17-12 in the final.
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