Scotland launch new sevens season in Spain

THE new full-time Scotland sevens squad will today open the new season in a mini-tournament in Spain in preparation for their launch into the 2011-12 HSBC World Sevens Series later this month. The World Series starts on Australia’s Gold Coast for the first time this season, and to step up preparation in conditions closer in temperature than here, the Scots flew yesterday to Elche in Spain to play in a northern hemisphere invitational tournament.

The squad of 12 players will take on England, Wales, France and Portugal at Estadio Martínez Valero today.

The concern for Scotland Sevens head coach Graham Shiel is simply finding a good level of competition rather than a nicer climate.

He said: “This tournament provides an opportunity for us to compete against teams we will face in the HSBC Sevens World Series and it will be beneficial for us to be able to measure exactly where we are.

“The main aim for this tournament is to see where the team are physically and to see how accurate their skills are under pressure and when fatigue kicks in. In the last few weeks, we have put a lot of focus on improving the basics.

“We also have a good amount of time to return take stock of our performances and refocus for the opening leg of the series on the Gold Coast.”

The Scots are missing Struan Dewar, Peter Horne and Hamish Watson through injury, but have called in experienced sevens performer Michael Fedo, as well as talented club sevens players Mark Cairns from Currie and Glasgow Hawks’ back row Ross Miller.

Shiel added: “It’s also a fantastic opportunity for the young players because for a number of them it will be their first time travelling and playing for Scotland 7s. It’s a huge opportunity and honour for them and I’m looking forward to seeing how they deal with the big step up.

“Also, for the more experienced players, this will allow them to make an early transition from XVs to sevens and the earlier we do that in the season the better it will be for us.”

Scotland squad for Elche: C Gregor, J Eddie, R Hughes, A Ashe, S Kennedy (all Glasgow Warriors), S Hidalgo Clyne, K Gossman, J Fleming, A Turnbull (all Edinburgh), M Fedo (Northumbria University), M Cairns (Currie), R Miller (Glasgow Hawks).