Howden announced as headline sponsor for 2025 Howden Melrose Sevens
Published
Read time
4 March 2025 – The Melrose Sevens, the world-famous birthplace of rugby sevens, is delighted to announce Howden as the headline sponsor for the 2025 tournament. This landmark partnership reinforces Howden’s ongoing commitment to rugby at all levels, from grassroots to elite competition, and follows its partnership as a Principal Partner of The British & Irish Lions.
The 2025 Howden Melrose Sevens will take place from 22nd to 25 May, promising an action-packed weekend of world-class rugby and festivities at the iconic Greenyards ground in the Scottish Borders town of Melrose. Building on last year’s success, which saw nearly 12,000 participants—including players, volunteers, spectators, and staff—the tournament aims to continue its growth with Howden’s support.
In 2024, the Melrose Sevens generated an impressive £2.5 million economic boost for the Borders region, demonstrating its significance both locally and within the wider rugby community. This year’s event will also benefit from the heightened anticipation surrounding the upcoming Qatar Airways Lions Men’s Tour to Australia, further cementing its prestige on the rugby calendar.
Phil Morris, Melrose Sevens Tournament Director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Howden as the headline sponsor of the Howden Melrose Sevens. Their dedication to rugby, from grassroots all the way to the pinnacle of The British & Irish Lions, aligns perfectly with our vision for the Melrose Sevens and with Howden’s support, we’re excited to build on our tournament’s great foundations, especially in expanding the women’s and Under 18 sevens events.”
Melrose Rugby and the Howden Melrose Sevens holds a special place in rugby’s rich history, having produced notable British and Irish Lions players, including Craig Chalmers, Doddie Weir OBE, Peter Wright, Frank Laidlaw, and legendary Lions coach Jim Telfer. Telfer, a Melrose RFC stalwart with 21 caps for Scotland, famously led the Lions to New Zealand in 1983 and served as assistant coach for the victorious 1997 tour to South Africa, which spawned his now infamous ‘Everest’ team talk.
David Howden, CEO, Howden, said: “Rugby is a sport I love and, having grown up with the game, I'm passionately committed to supporting it at all levels. How are we making that happen? We have a superb Sport and Entertainment division, which has been working with community and professional sport, from grassroots to the elite level, for over a decade. We have more than 200 branches and offices on high streets across the UK which not only offer specialist insurance broker expertise, but deeply embed us in communities supporting local rugby.
“We’re sponsor of the Howden Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens, which nurtures the next generation of rugby stars, and we’re also a Principal Partner of The British & Irish Lions. And of course we’re now headline sponsor of the magnificent Melrose Sevens!
This iconic tournament in the birthplace of the rugby sevens, has a truly global reputation. It offers a spectacular showcase for current and future stars of the sport and it is the perfect platform for community rugby to thrive. So we're proud to partner with such a fantastic competition and couldn't be more excited about helping it continue to go from strength to strength."
As the home of rugby sevens, Melrose remains deeply rooted in the sport’s history, continuing to inspire and connect rugby communities worldwide. With Howden as its partner, the 2025 Melrose Sevens is set to deliver another historic chapter in the evolution of the sport.