Scotland’s GB Sevens player Shona Campbell has opened up on social media about the big changes ahead that mean the programme will change markedly from August onwards.
Put simply, the Great Britain men and women’s full-time sevens programme will be no more from July.
There will be no more permanent contracts, with players instead coming together to train and play via a camp model around events.
The unions say the decision has been driven by financial pressures and a bid to improve the crossover with the XV-a-side game.
Campbell, the 23, has been part of the GB Sevens set up in recent years and played in the most recent events at the end of the 2024/25 SVNS series.
“After months of uncertainty, rumours and fighting to protect our place on the World Series, last week we got the news we were dreading,” the Montrose product, who is a Scotland sevens and XVs cap too, said via Instagram.
“The Great Britain Sevens programme is moving to a part-time pay to play model.
“From July, all full-time contracts are gone.
“No guarantees on how players will be selected – or supported – in the future.
“No job security.
“For most of us, that may mean our time playing for GB Sevens is over.
“And I get it – sevens in the UK and around the world isn’t exactly a profit-making machine.
“Tournament formats keep changing. The World Series itself feels constantly under threat.
“What was once a development tool is now seen as a financial burden by unions already stretched to breaking point.
“But this isn’t just about budgets. I will leave that to the unions.
“This is about real people – players and management who have kept this team alive despite underfunding and limited prep time through sheer passion.
“For many of us, we may have worn the shirt for the last time without even realising.
“The story we started writing together now hangs in the balance.
“The Olympic dream – the thing that drove so many of us – is slipping away.
“And the chance for the next generation – the kids across Britain dreaming of pulling on that jersey – suddenly feels further out of reach than ever.
“A game born in Scotland now faces an uncertain future.
“But it’s not over.
“We’ve got eight more weeks to stand up – with the support of Scottish Rugby – and fight for the future of the programme.
“For the shirt.
“For the future.
“For the ones coming next.”
Shona Campbell and her GB Sevens team mates are pictured
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