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Three key men for Scotland’s Sevens team have been awarded full-time professional Scotland contracts.

The experienced Scott Forrest (captain), Colin Shaw and Mike Adamson have notched an impressive 500 points in 61 sevens tournaments, including the 2009 Rugby Sevens World Cup in Dubai. They will form the backbone of future squads as Scotland look to build on the recent back-to-back semi-finals at the London and Edinburgh legs of the IRB World Sevens Series.

The trio will continue to train with Glasgow Warriors with a tailored strength, conditioning and skills programmes to suit the demands of the shortened game.

National Academy Manager and Scotland Sevens head coach, Stephen Gemmell is delighted with the outcome.

“Importantly, for the contracted individuals, they are still getting the opportunity to promote themselves into the professional game.

“Sevens contracts give them the best opportunity to continue to develop as rugby players while supporting the National Academy players who are out of age-grade rugby and the professional players that come into the squad.

“We can’t follow a model that other countries use. We have to create a model that best fits what we have in Scotland because we need to give our talented individuals the best opportunity to promote themselves in the professional environment and beyond. International 7s definitely provides that opportunity for us in Scotland,” added Gemmell.

Newly contracted sevens international, Colin Shaw, made his Scotland Sevens debut in South Africa in 2006 and is confident that he can only benefit from this opportunity.

“The power and pace of sevens has completely changed over the last few years, especially in the season just passed, so it’s great that the Scotland Sevens team will be getting some full-time core players as this will bring a level of consistency to the squad.

“I’m often asked about the sevens by my team-mates at Glasgow and I’d honestly recommend it to anybody in any position to play sevens because it has an awful lot to offer all positions in XV-a-side rugby – it increases your fitness, your skill level, your spatial awareness and your defence has to be better because you’re always one on one in a bigger area.

“Stevie Gemmell is fully aware – and backs – my intention to start and be involved in as many games as possible for Glasgow and make my way in the XVs game and though I’ve won a sevens contract I see it as a way of getting the best of both worlds. In fact, since the season started with Glasgow, I’ve found a bit of form.”

The King of Sevens season has already started in the Scottish Borders over the last two weekends with Melrose and Selkirk taking the first two events.