When it was finally confirmed yesterday that Glasgow would indeed host ten sports at four venues for the Commonwealth Games in 2026, I was not surprised that rugby sevens did not make the final roster for this cut-down poor man’s version of the event which started life as the British Empire Games in 1930 and which seem to be heading the way of that Empire into oblivion.
Despite sevens being a sport we invented, just over 60 miles from Glasgow in Melrose, and despite the finest exponents of sevens being Commonwealth countries, except Olympic champions France, it seems there is no place for rugby in Glasgow 2026 and in the lingo of that city, I’m beelin’ about it.
Ever since it was mooted earlier this year that Glasgow would host the 2026 Games, I have been excited at the prospect. Covering the 2014 Games was the hardest sportswriting work I have ever done, not least because of the insane distances I had to cover in a short space of time. In the end it was worth it, however, and I have very fond memories to look back on, so bring on 2026 and we’ll have one helluva party again.
Yet without rugby the Games will not be as attractive to me or many other fans of our sport. The spectacle at Ibrox Park in 2014 was just sensational, and I thought maybe the same venue could have hosted the two-day tournament again, given that Scotstoun Stadium is going to host the athletics.
World Rugby were standing by to authorise the tournament but they have been stood down, and are none too chuffed. Their statement issued yesterday was blunt: “While understanding the unique circumstances of the 2026 Games, and reassurances from the Commonwealth Games Federation that the decision does not set a precedent for future Games, the absence of rugby sevens, along with other team sports, at Glasgow 2026 is a significant loss for players, fans, and the Games themselves.”
Too true, and rugby’s howls of anguish are echoed by the powers-that-be in hockey, squash, wrestling, badminton, diving, table tennis, and mountain biking. If I was the sports minister of India, for example, I wouldn’t even bother turning up because the most populous nation on Earth’s traditional strengths are not being catered for at all.
So what was the real reason for rugby being left out? It took a lot of digging – okay, a couple of phone calls – to ascertain that the problem boiled down to money. Remember that all the world’s top sevens players are now full-time professionals and though their unions would bear the costs of salaries, there would still be considerable expense in getting the 26-strong squads – 13 men and 13 women plus the usual coteries of coaches, medical staff, referees and officials – to Glasgow where say, 5-600 people would have had to be accommodated. With just one gold medal each for the men and women’s tournament, it seemed a lot of money being doled out for very little return.
Remember that the 2026 Games must not impact on the public purse, despite that purse spending £778m on Birmingham 2022. So the organisers were hamstrung from the outset and I understand the sums just did not add up.
Back in July I suggested that the rugby sevens could be played at Murrayfield and maybe now there is still a chance that World Rugby and the Commmonwealth Games Federation could hammer out a deal to play the 2026 tournament in Glasgow or Edinburgh.
After all, when the decision was taken to follow the Olympic schedule and have Scotland integrated into the Team GB set-up, it was argued that a Scottish seven would continue for, ahem, the Commonwealth Games. And of course Team GB didn’t make it to Paris – oops.
There’s still 20 months to the start of Glasgow Games II so surely there must be some brains out there that can keep rugby sevens in the event. If not, it will be a huge loss to Glasgow, Scotland and the sport of rugby union.
Finally I can’t conclude this column without calling on the Scottish rugby community to lend all our support to Sir Chris Hoy as he battles his terminal cancer. I know you already do, but when you know that he is one of ours, a bit of a star on the rugby field at George Watson’s College - he could have been a top class rower or rugby player before his dad got him a BMX-style bike – it makes it all the more important that we all lend what support we can, perhaps through raising money for cancer research and cancer charities. A ‘My Name’s Doddie’ style fund?
With his wife Sara having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the Hoy family are going to need all the love and support they can get. Chris’s courage in speaking out about his diagnosis shows they deserve all we can give.
