Gemmell singing the praises of Singapore

Published on Tuesday 21 October 2008 00:14

SCOTLAND sevens coach Stephen Gemmell has praised last year's SSC International Rugby Sevens in Singapore as a key event in the calendar ahead of the start of the IRB Sevens World Series next month.

"For me, it's an opportunity to expose new players to international rugby sevens outwith the IRB Series," said Gemmell. "Grant Anderson, Jim Thompson, Chris Fusaro and Chris Kinloch were all introduced to international sevens in Singapore last year and they all made significant contributions to the squad over the course of the Series. The likes of Jim Thompson and Chris Kinloch have since gone on to gain professional contracts with Glasgow and Edinburgh."

Although the new talent heading to Singapore will be eyeing a place in Gemmell's squad for Dubai next month, they will all be looking to secure a spot in the squad for their return to the United Arab Emirates for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in March.

"The focus of our year is the World Cup and this gives the players the opportunity to put a marker down in terms of selection before going into start of the IRB Sevens World Series," the coach said. "Singapore will also get the newer players used to playing back-to-back days, which isn't the case when playing sevens for their clubs."

Scottish Thistles squad (to play in the SCC International Rugby Sevens in Singapore on 1 and 2 November): Scott Forrest (Ayr), Roddy Grant (West of Scotland), Chris Fusaro (Heriot's), Struan Dewar (Heriot's), Alex Dunbar (Selkirk), Ashleah McCulloch (Aberdeen Grammar Rugby), Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Blair (Edinburgh Accies), Graham Hogg (Hawick), Rory Hutton (Hawick), Grant Anderson (Ayr), Tom Bury (Boroughmuir).

Campbell Bone, the former Ardrossan Accies captain who gave a lifetime of service to rugby in Ayrshire, has died. He was 83. A forward in his playing days, initially in the back row and then at hooker, Campbell played for and captained Ardrossan Accies and was a first XV regular for 20 years.

Campbell also went on to coach at Ardrossan, Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine.