More than 15,000 tickets sold for World Sevens event in Glasgow SCOTTISH Rugby yesterday insisted that soaring sales for next month's Emirates Airlines Glasgow Sevens fully vindicated its decision to freshen up the tournament by moving the HSBC World Series event to Scotstoun from its previous base at Murrayfield. Advance ticket sales have now surpassed the 15,000 mark, with three weeks still to go until 16 international sevens sides compete over two days in Glasgow on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 May. The Scottish leg of the world series was also a favourite on the sporting calendar at Murrayfield, but the SRU took the bold move to switch it from Edinburgh to give the tournament a fresh look in Glasgow, which is gearing up for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. The city will stage the World Sevens for the next three years, joining The Gold Coast, Dubai, Port Elizabeth, Wellington, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and London in hosting the competition between 2012 and 2014. A spokesman for Scottish Rugby said: "We have seen a 20 per cent increase in sales on the same stage last year, having taken the decision to host the HSBC Sevens World Series in Glasgow rather Edinburgh. The city has really embraced the event and it looks as though we're going to have a packed out stadium. We don't have the same capacity as previous years but that will make for an electric atmosphere in the best traditions of the Home of Sevens. The Scottish leg of the series will take place within a specially- constructed arena at Scotstoun, which will also be the home of Glasgow Warriors next season when the pro team moves from its current base at Firhill. Three stands are being erected at Scotstoun which trebles the capacity of the venue, while the whole compound will be used for the event from skill zones to face painting and live bands. The SRU spokesman added: "We really want people to get their tickets in advance so they can take advantage of the free shuttle bus service over the weekend but more importantly so they don't miss out on what is an incredible couple of days." Supporters who want to come to Glasgow can take advantage of a free bus service, introduced for the first time by Scottish Rugby and Glasgow Life, which will run all day from Buchanan Street Bus Station and Partick Interchange to the stadium and back. Only ticket holders for the Emirates Airline Glasgow 7s can use the service. Tickets cost just £15 for a day at the sevens, with all concessions at half the full price. Big-hearted Glasgow Warriors players, coaches, staff and supporters yesterday joined forced to raise upwards of £34,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust via a sponsored abseil at Murrayfield Stadium. Abseilers made the 100ft descent from the West stand to raise vital funds for the treatment and research of one of the UK's most common life-threatening inherited diseases. Leading the charge were Warriors managing director Nathan Bombrys, head coach Sean Lineen, elite development coach Iain Monaghan, players Troy Nathan, Nick Campbell, Finlay Gillies and Gordon Reid, physiotherapist Nicola McGuire, marketing manager Nicola Sturgeon and media manager Mark Palmer. Edinburgh Rugby stars Alan MacDonald and Harry Leonard also took the plunge, as did Ronan Gilchrist, chairman of the Edinburgh Rugby Supporters Club. The already fantastic £34,000 figure may well rise yet further, with participants having the opportunity to conduct some post-event fund-raising.