Speedway: Thompson to miss farewell match as he joins Scotland on sevens duty

Edinburgh utility back Jim Thompson will miss Edinburgh’s big farewell as he focuses on sevens duty at the Emirates Airlines Sevens at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.

Thompson, who is among the players set to leave Edinburgh after tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 finale, has been called up to the 12-strong Scotland sevens squad together with his Edinburgh team mate John Houston.

They join Scott Riddell of Stewart’s Melville, ex-Watsonians player Michael Fedo, Stirling County duo Adam Ashe and Sean Kennedy, and Ross Miller of Glasgow Hawks, as well as five Scotland sevens specialists.

Scotland kick off their pool matches against Wales (11.58am), before meeting South Africa (3.04pm) and Russia (5.53pm).

The Scots have struggled in the HSBC Series, but Houston believes the inclusion of experienced players can help deliver a top-eight place in this two-day tournament.

He said, “On the circuit this year, the boys haven’t qualified yet for a quarter-final so that will definitely be our aim.”

Meanwhile, Edinburgh clubs are well represented in the Scotland Under-20 side set to meet their English Counties counterparts in St Andrews this evening in a build up match for next month’s Junior World Championships in South Africa.

Boroughmuir trio Harris Jones, Keith Buchan and Alex Henderson are named in the starting side which also features Edinburgh Rugby apprentice George Turner.

Turner’s colleagues Robin Hislop, Harry Leonard and Jamie Farndale start on the bench alongside Currie’s Fergus Scott, Callum Reid of Edinburgh Accies and Boroughmuir pair Jamie Swanson and Mike Crawley.