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Scottish Sevens' statement of intent

Tuesday 6 October 2009 (Scotsman)

Scotland Sevens boss Stephen Gemmell is determined to pull out all the stops ahead of a hectic year for his side. Not only is there the highly competitive IRB World Sevens Series to worry about, but also the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October 2010.

This week sees Gemmell hosts a training camp at Delhi University- the venue of next year’s tournament - and will play against local sides and receive specialist coaching.

This is the first season Gemmell has had contracted players at his disposal, and stresses the trip to India is a signal of the regard Sevens is being taken this year.

“It’s a statement of intent about how seriously we’re taking sevens,” said Gemmell.

“We’ve contracted three full-time sevens players and now we are holding a week’s training camp exactly one year out from the Commonwealth Games.

“It will give us an invaluable opportunity to experience the conditions and familiarise ourselves with the surroundings.”

Gemmell was part of another new initiative back in August at the Middlesex Sevens. He joined up with England and Wales Sevens coaches, Ben Ryan and Paul John, to coach a mixed Help for Heroes VII.

Team GB

All three sides have vowed to sides continuing to continue to work together in the future, through training matches and potentially entering tournaments as a combined team. If Sevens is successfully included into the Olympics the home nations will form a Great Britain side for the 2016 event in Rio.

Scotland Sevens international Rory Hutton, who was part of that combined team at Middlesex Sevens, believes a Great Britain team could present the UK with an amazing opportunity.

"If you can get the best players from each of the home nations and have good solid preparation then I think Great Britain would be knocking on the door of winning it, said Hutton.

"Wales won the World Cup, England has been up there and Scotland came good towards the end of last season's IRB Sevens World Series.

"There are a lot of good players to choose from and I think it'd be brilliant to play alongside them for team GB.

 

Tagged in this article: Middlesex Charity Sevens 2010

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