The Scotsman reports

DAVID FERGUSON
SCOTLAND are targeting a return to the top eight nations in sevens rugby, but remain acutely aware that the new, young team could suffer some heavy lessons on the way.

The team yesterday began preparing for their first tournament in Dubai, with coach Stephen Gemmell conscious of the severe challenge posed by the SRU's new selection policy. Gone are the experienced sevens campaigners such as Clark Laidlaw, Mark Lee, David Gray and Andrew Turnbull and in come a full squad of academy players drawn from across Scotland.

Gemmell admitted: "When you look at the playing base we have in Scotland, and just three professional teams, we can't create the playing opportunities for our young players, so to take the best away and give them the chance to play on the world stage against England, New Zealand and Australia, in front of crowds like the 30,000 we'll see in Dubai, is invaluable to us.

"We do lack a bit of out-and-out sevens experience at the moment, but, with this squad of very talented players, that will come."

By focusing on the academy structure, the theory is that they will also provide the better- conditioned young athletes with the kind of high-intensity, competitive environment which is prevalent for youngsters in the southern hemisphere, but in short supply in Scotland.

Mike Blair, Marcus Di Rollo, Simon Taylor, Sean Lamont and Kelly Brown are among current Test players who played sevens for Scotland, and autumn debutants Rob Dewey, David Callam, Alasdair Strokosch and Rory Lawson all featured last season.

Scotland's rookie side face a tough introduction, with France and England as well as Zimbabwe their opponents in Dubai this weekend and then New Zealand and Australia in George in South Africa the following week.

"We are going in with our eyes open," said Gemmell. "We start as tenth seeds, but have set the target of finishing in the top eight by the end of the season."

Colin White, the Glasgow and Ayr forward, has replaced Andrew Easson, who was withdrawn by Edinburgh due to their injuries, while Dunfermline's Stephen McColl comes in for the injured Paul Loudon.

Steelers Rugby, who won the plate in Dubai last year, received a boost when New Zealand sevens legend Brad Fleming was added to their squad.

Along with Fleming, Mark Lee and Clark Laidlaw - who both played in all of the IRB sevens events for Scotland last year and for their country at the Commonwealth Games - will give experience to the squad.

Steelers will play Kentz Drifters, Stefan BHF and Dynamo in the group stages.

Scotland Sevens squad (for Dubai, 1-2 December, & George, 8-9 December): B Addison (Glasgow/Stirling County), M Adamson (Glasgow/Hawks), M Bringhurst (Edinburgh/Watsonians), C Forrester (Glasgow/GHA), S Forrest (Borders/Hawick) captain, C Forrester (Glasgow/GHA), R Grant (Borders/Gala), R Jackson (Glasgow/Cartha Queens Park), L Kibble (Borders/Gala), D McCall (Edinburgh/Stewart's Melville), S McColl (Dunfermline), M Robertson (Borders/Melrose), C White (Glasgow/Ayr).

Steelers Rugby squad: B Fleming, I Fairley, C Shaw, J Reilly, K Sinclair, C Keenan, D Flockhart, M Lee, C Laidlaw, C Shaw.

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Rugby Sevens

This article was posted on 29-Nov-2006, 08:16 by Hugh Barrow.