THE HERALD REPORTS

Globetrotting skipper is relishing prospect of home comfort
DAVID FERGUSON
'FORGET strolls in the June sunshine and trick-laden playful rugby, and prepare for crash, bang, wallop' is the message coming from the Scotland captain as he prepares to lead the team out on home territory for the first time in the IRB World Sevens Series.

Scott Forrest is not yet a well-known name across Scottish rugby, largely because the 22-year-old's feats in the sevens world are spread mostly across the southern hemisphere, but the Glasgow youngster's profile will lift this weekend if he can steer his side through the world's leading sevens nations towards Sunday's season finale.

He is also confident that the platform the IRB series hands to talented players has provided him with a great opportunity to launch a professional career which may bring him back to the stadium in a full international.

"This will undoubtedly be the highlight of my career so far," he said. "I can't complain about travelling the world and playing in places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Adelaide and San Diego, but coming home to your own great stadium is a bit special.

"Hopefully, the Scottish rugby public will come out and support, and help us make it pretty memorable. I guarantee they'll see some amazing rugby and might be surprised. I don't think people in Scotland will fully understand how physical sevens have become as a sport.

"There is still a place for great skills like Waisale Serevi has, but it's a real blend now of ferocity and skills. There are a lot of very big boys on the circuit now, especially from more unfancied teams, and it makes the game very physical."

This is Forrest's second year on the IRB circuit, the No8 from Hamilton College having come through Cambuslang's youth system and won international honours at every age grade up to U-21 so far. He was asked to captain the team this year by virtue of having played in four tournaments last season, and he believes the development of the squad over the seven events so far - from being smashed in the opening two events to reaching the quarter-finals of the last four - is little short of astounding.

More pertinently, perhaps, he believes every player will emerge this summer as better equipped to make a mark in the XV-a-side professional game.

"Well, it certainly shows the ability we have and what can be achieved when we're confident," he said. "There have been a lot of skills to learn. Passing has to be very good and if you don't make your one-on-one tackles in this game, against big, fast guys, for example, there's no-one waiting to mop up for you. You can't have a wee breather for a minute or so like you can in XVs.

"My skills improved massively with just four tournaments last year. It was a bit strange going back to XVs and finding so many guys on the pitch, but I was a lot more comfortable on the ball; you try things more and hit better lines.

"I think you also learn to read the game better and learn about other roles. I play No8, but I'm looking at openside flanker as well because of the skills I've learned in sevens. Kelly Brown is a similar shape to me and he made the same move through the sevens.

"I thought he was our form player in the Six Nations, and I'd like to follow him, and guys like Dave Strettle and James Haskell who have gone from sevens to full England caps.

"But, right now, I just want to play rugby at the highest level I can, and the IRB world sevens in your own country is pretty special. The goal for every one of us is to perform really well for Scotland this weekend, and captaining the team is a great honour I want to make the most of."

This article was posted on 2-Jun-2007, 07:32 by Hugh Barrow.