EDINBURGH winger Andrew Turnbull makes his return to the international stage at Twickenham today in the Emirates Airline London Sevens, the penultimate tournament of the 2007/08 IRB World Series.

Turnbull became one of the stars of the short game, but that success persuaded Edinburgh to use him in the Magners League. However, with his Edinburgh commitments finished this season, Turnbull has been released to play for Scotland in London, a mADVERTISEMENTove which sevens coach, Stephen Gemmell, believes has boosted morale within his squad.

"Andrew, along with Colin Gregor, who is also making a return to sevens, have raised the expectancy levels of the other players. They've all been working harder and running faster in training," noted Gemmell.

Turnbull's pace could transform the fortunes of a Scotland sevens team that has lacked a genuine finisher. "Andrew could well go to Canada with the Churchill Cup squad if he performs well," added Gemmell.

Scotland will go into the London tournament determined to put behind them two poor displays in Hong Kong and Adelaide that took the gloss off reaching the quarter-finals in each of the first four rounds.

"Hong Kong, because of its 24-team format is a difficult tournament. But we underestimated China, and that defeat cost us dear," recalled Gemmell. "Adelaide was different. We missed out on a Cup place because of points difference – a conversion kick in fact. But Adelaide was a disaster for all the northern hemisphere sides. Since then we've had a good hard look at ourselves."

Scotland open against Kenya, one of the sides to have made rapid strides in the sevens game, before facing Samoa and then Russia.

Scotland Sevens squad: Scott Forrest (Ayr) capt, Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Addison (Stirling County), Grant Anderson (Ayr), Chris Fusaro (Heriot's), Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Steven Lawrie (Edinburgh), Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors), James Thompson (Heriot's), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors).

This article was posted on 24-May-2008, 07:24 by Hugh Barrow.