Scotland getting continuity in sevens squad says Gemmell

Posted on Nov 26, 2009 in Rugby News

The IRB Sevens World Series gets underway next weekend in Dubai before moving onto George in South Africa, so today, Scotland 7s coach Stephen Gemmell announced a strong and well prepared squad for the opening tournament of the season.

“There’s some continuity in our squad now. We’ve got Scott Forrest, Mike Adamson and Colin Shaw who have sevens as their main competition.

“It’s nice to have that backbone and also having Hefin O’Hare and Andrew Turnbull involved in the squad who were in London and Edinburgh last season. That’s five players there who have been involved in consecutive semi-finals.”

There are six new caps in the squad, among which are Bath scrum-half Mike Baxter, Sale Sharks back-rower David Tait and Glasgow’s formidable ball carrying flanker James Eddie.

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Scottish Rugby expresses interest in tendering for 2013 RWC 7s

Posted on Nov 4, 2009 in Rugby News

Scottish Rugby can confirm today that it has expressed interest to the game’s worldwide governing body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), in tendering to host the Rugby World Cup 7s in 2013.

Seven other unions have expressed interest to the IRB and now work will begin in detail to determine whether Scottish Rugby can proceed to the formal bid stage.

Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive Gordon McKie said: “Rugby sevens are very much regarded as the flagship for the global development of our sport – and that gives great pride to us in Scotland given that we gave the game to the world.

“Scottish Rugby hosted the inaugural Rugby World Cup 7s in 1993 and, of course, 7s will ensure rugby returns to the Olympic family in time for the summer games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

“We are also very proud that 7s will be one of major sports at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“But what will be crucial in our deliberations on whether we submit a formal bid for the 2013 RWC 7s will be that such a bid must sit alongside our strategic objectives.

“We cannot advance a bid if it were to compromise the overall financial stability of the game in Scotland and hosting such a tournament would be about much more than the event itself.

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