• • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • Stumble Upon
  • Furl

The Scotland Sevens squad convened this week for training ahead of the next two legs of the IRB Sevens World Series in Wellington (5-6 February) and Las Vegas (13 & 14 February).

After a bright finish to the end of last season, Scotland’s 2009/10 campaign has so far been a disappointing one with the side winless in Dubai and only mustering the Shield title in George.

With that in mind and with injuries also a factor, coach Scott Gemmell has made four changes to the squad. Glasgow Hawks youngster Duncan Weir make his first competitive appearance for Scotland Sevens whilst Scott Riddell, Chris Kinloch and Struan Dewar all return.

On the young debutant, Gemmell said: “Duncan has been playing consistently well for Hawks and is making progress so this is an opportunity to see how he performs at the next level.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how he deals with the whole occasion which includes the travel, atmosphere and competition. It’s a great opportunity for him.”

Scott Riddell was a member of the Scotland squad which lifted the Plate title at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai and both Kinloch and Dewar are eager to add to their cap total.

Gemmell continued: “Chris was with us in France pre-season but has been carrying an injury. His goal is to remind everyone that he is a professional rugby player.

“When Chris has come to previous tournaments, he’s performed consistently. You know what to expect from a player like him.”

Speaking about Dewar, he added: “Struan did really well in pre-season and would have been with us in Dubai and George had he not picked up an injury.

“He’s had experience of international sevens before but he is now a year older. He is looking fit and has a point to prove and this is the perfect vehicle for him to promote himself.”

Scotland have been drawn in Pool B at the NZI Sevens in Wellington on 5-6 February with George runners up Fiji, Australia and Papua New Guinea. A week later at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas, Scotland will face Dubai runners up Samoa, Kenya and Chile in Pool C.

Scotland squad for NZI Sevens and USA Sevens:

Scott Forrest CAPTAIN, Mike Adamson, Grant Anderson (Ayr), Struan Dewar (Heriot’s), Peter Jericevich (Glasgow Hawks), Lee Jones (Selkirk), Chris Kinloch (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Riddell (Blaydon), Colin Shaw, David Tait (Sale Sharks), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Hawks)