When the Scotland 7s squad take to the field in Dubai tomorrow morning (Friday 4 December, kick-off 9.20am local time, 5.20am GMT), the referee’s whistle will signal the start of the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series.
Even though the Scots have been given the privilege of the opening game of the Series they face one of the world’s most potent sevens countries, Fiji, before encounters against Samoa and Zimbabwe later the same day.
But with two intensive training camps under their belts coupled with the selection of a strong squad, Scotland 7s coach Stephen Gemmell believes that his players will rise to the occasion.
“We face a big challenge in our first game,” said Gemmell. “We’re opening the World Series which is a massive honour and we’ve got a massive test against Fiji.
“I’ve been looking back over last few tournaments and we always seem to play the winners of the previous tournament; this year we’ve got it again.
“We’re going to be challenged massively in terms of physicality against Fiji, Samoa and Zimbabwe.”
The Scots achieved their first ever semi-final spot in London last year and backed it up the following week with a place in the penultimate play-off in front of a home crowd at Murrayfield.
During those two memorable weekends, Scotland recorded victories over both Fiji and Samoa, but Gemmell is also aware of the threat posed by Zimbabwe.
He added: “We’ve beaten Fiji before, in London, and we beat Samoa at Murrayfield.
“We owe Zimbabwe because this time last year they beat us three times between Dubai and George.
“They are a nation who continue to improve. In their preparation they went to Namibia and beat Samoa. They went to the final of that tournament and lost out to South Africa.
“We keep saying it - there are no easy games. There are three challenges, three opportunities and its three games that, if we get our preparation and our game right on the day then, we are capable of winning.”

That winning capability comes from a squad that contains some new caps but also the experience of Scotland’s three fulltime sevens players – Mike Adamson, Scott Forrest and Colin Shaw – as well as the likes of Andrew Turnbull and Hefin O’Hare who were part of the squad that made those back-to-back semi-finals in London and Edinburgh.
He said: “It’s a strong squad on paper, but we need to make it a strong squad on the field. I know the players well and I know that every one of them will give their all for the jersey.”
Scotland 7s squad to compete at the IRB Sevens World Series events in Dubai (4 & 5 December) and George, South Africa (11 & 12 December): Scott Forrest* CAPTAIN, Mike Adamson*, Grant Anderson (Ayr)**, Mike Baxter (Bath), James Eddie (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Jericevich (Glasgow Hawks)**, Lee Jones (Selkirk), Stuart McInally (Watsonians)**, Hefin O’Hare (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Shaw*, David Tait (Sale Sharks), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)

* = Fulltime Scotland 7s player.
** = Member of Scottish Rugby’s Contracted National Academy

IRB Dubai Sevens, Pool B: Fiji, Samoa, Scotland, Zimbabwe

Scotland 7s’ Pool B fixtures on day one (Friday 4 December) of the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens:
Fiji v Scotland, 9.20am local time, 5.20am GMT
Samoa v Scotland, 1.18pm local time, 9.18am GMT
Scotland v Zimbabwe, 4.32pm local time, 12.32pm GMT

All the latest scores and reaction will be available on www.scottishrugby.org

This article was posted on 3-Dec-2009, 19:22 by Hugh Barrow.