An Ulster President’s Team will compete in the show-piece Sevens competition on Saturday 12th April, while an Ulster over 35s team, featuring many of the Province’s former European Cup winners, will play in a Tens competition on the 10th and 11th April.

Andy Ward is just one of those former players who will be donning the Ulster shirt again– he’ll be joined by his former team-mates including Simon Mason and Mark Blair and is looking forward to the festival of rugby;

“I am really pleased to be playing in the Melrose 7s, it will be great to wear an Ulster jersey again and I am delighted to be playing in such a historic tournament”

This marks the first time that Ulster have participated in the Melrose Tournament, one of the largest festivals in the European rugby calendar which this year is celebrating its 125^th anniversary. Over 18,000 spectators are expected to attend the event over the three day period to witness a sport that now has a huge international following.

Competing against Ulster in the Sevens Competition, which features 24 sides in total, will be teams from South Africa, Australia and China as well as the Leicester Tigers. The event has a reputation for showcasing spectacular displays of rugby and has previously played host to rugby greats including Australian David Campese, South African full back Percy Montgomery, French legends Serge Blanco and Jean Baptiste Ellisalde, England’s Will Carling and Ireland’s Tony O’Reilly.

Andrea Hayes, Flybe’s General Manager Market Development says,

“Flybe is delighted to sponsor the Ulster Sevens and Veteran Tens teams, representing Ulster in the long-established Melrose Sevens tournament. Melrose Sevens has a strong following and is celebrating its 125^th Anniversary this year. Flybe’s sponsorship forms part of the airline’s overall commitment to local sport for all ages. It is fantastic to support local sporting talent and, on behalf of Flybe, I look forward to watching our guys take on teams from all over the world.

“Flybe has strong links with Scotland, flying out of the George Best Belfast City Airport to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and, most recently, through our new franchise partner, Loganair to Dundee. Flybe wishes the two teams every success and looks forward to flying them back triumphant!”