Glasgow will host world sevens again

WORLD sevens will return to Glasgow next year on the first bank holiday weekend in May. Scottish Rugby announced yesterday that the Emirates Airline Glasgow 7s will be held on 4 and 5 May in 2013 following the highly successful inaugural event at Scotstoun Stadium.

Nearly 27,000 revelled in the atmosphere and welcomed 16 international teams to the city, earning praise from the International Rugby Board. Glasgow will be part of the global circuit which is being expanded this year to include a tenth leg of the series, to be held in Argentina.

Dominic McKay, director of communications and public affairs at Scottish Rugby, said: “We’re delighted that the Emirates Airline Glasgow 7s will return to Glasgow. We’ve received tremendous support from the city and that made the event this year something special. Next year will be even better.

“To have so many people attend in our first year at Scotstoun was incredible and people are already talking about 2013 being the “must-have” ticket.

Tickets will go on sale in early July with special offers for those who attended the event in May.

Argentina’s inclusion in the 2012-13 circuit, approved by the IRB Executive Committee, reflects the strong global demand for the sevens as the sport counts down to its Olympic Games debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. La Plata will play host to the series on 20-21 October 2012, one week after the Gold Coast Sevens kicks off the new season in Australia.

Meanwhile, Scotland Women 7s will be looking to build on their success earlier this month, in the Fira tournament in Belgium, with a winning performance in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2013 qualifier in Moscow this weekend.

Announcing his squad, head coach Scott Forrest said: “This is the ultimate goal of our short programme, qualification for the World Cup, and we have to come in the top five.

“All we’re thinking about is the first game, against Ukraine on Saturday morning, when we must set down a marker. Then we face Spain, which will be a massive game as they reached the final against England in their tournament last weekend. In the short time we’ve been together, however, I’ve seen how we can compete with the best – beating South Africa and running the Netherlands close – and we have every opportunity to finish in that top five.”

The squad undertook their final training session at Hamilton’s and Cambuslang’s grounds last weekend, extended by the inclusion for these two days of Scotland Women XV players Caroline Collie (OA Saints) and Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars). Forrest added: “The weather was terrible but the girls did really well and Caroline and Tanya added that bit to the session.”

HSBC Sevens World Series 2012/13: Round 1 Australia (Gold Coast) 13-14 Oct; Round 2 Argentina (La Plata) 20-21 Oct; Round 3 Dubai 30 Nov-1 Dec; Round 4 South Africa (Port Elizabeth) 7-8 Dec; Round 5 New Zealand (Wellington) 1-2 Feb 2013; Round 6 USA (Las Vegas) 8-10 Feb; Round 7 Hong Kong 22-24 Mar; Round 8 Japan (Tokyo) 30-31 Mar; Round 9 Scotland (Glasgow) 4-5 May; Round 9 England (London) 11-12 May.

Scotland women’s squad and matches this weekend: Tess Forsberg (Richmond), Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars), Megan Gaffney (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Dixon (Stirling County), Katy Green (Murrayfield Wanderers), Annabel Sergeant (Murrayfield Wanderers), Stephanie Johnston (RHC Cougars)(captain), Lauren Harris (Melrose), Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers). Fixtures (Sat): Ukraine v Scotland; Spain v Scotland and Sweden v Scotland.