Gala won their home Sevens for the first time in 18 years last season - the same day local jockey became the first Scot in 117 years to win the Grand National, the most famous horse race in the world.

They teamed up for a double celebration at Netherdale later that day, a day which will long be remembered in Galashiels.

And, with a local taxi firm offering to sponsor the tournament for another year, they are keen to put on another Five Star show.

Kaye Niven, from Five Star Taxis, said: “We thoroughly enjoy it. We’re a rugby family and this is our local town and it’s about putting something back to the community so that’s why we do it.

“Last year was a once in a lifetime experience. As Galaleans, we couldn’t have asked for anything better. When Ryan Mania won the National and Gala won the Sevens and for Ryan to make that journey to come home it was just fantastic.

“People who had no intention of coming down here later on at night made that journey just to come down here and be part of it. So if we could repeat that that would be even better.” Gala were drawn in Pool One alongside Boroughmuir and Selkirk; Pool Two is an all-Border affair with seeds Melrose paired alongside Peebles and Jed-Forest; Watsonians, Kelso and Glasgow Hawks make up Pool Three; and Hawick Edinburgh Accies and Heriot’s are drawn in Pool Four.

The tournament kicks off at 3pm with the final being played under the floodlights at 7.15pm.

Commenting on the draw, which was made in the Netherdale clubrooms on Sunday, Gala Sevens convener Colin Playfair said: “It’s a tough start but for the first Sevens tournament you want some hard rugby to get up and running.

“The Sevens tournaments for all the Border clubs is their bread and butter for the season, that’s where they get their most income from. All we can hope for is that we can build on last year, which was a great success, and hopefully get the same again this season.” The club ditched the straight knock-out system in favour of a revised structure which saw four pools of three teams. And it also introduced a Plate and Bowl competition.

“It’s a great thing for the whole of the Borders,” Playfair said. “The format we’ve tried seems to work for us, I know for some other clubs it might not. And at least all the clubs get two or three games under their belt.” Zimbabwean star Gerald Sibanda has been tipped to shine for Gala on the Sevens circuit this season Playfair added: “It will be interesting to see winger Gerald Sibanda, he’s played on the international circuit. He’s not had much chance in the 15s unfortunately but I think he will come to the fore because he’s got the Sevens experience so I’m hoping he will make a big difference.”