Scottish Rugby is delighted to announce that the Scotland Sevens squad will be awarded caps for the forthcoming IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong later this month.

Scotland have been seeded among the top eight for the competition, their highest ever entry level to the Sevens World Cup.

The position comes as a result of Scotland’s performances in the last six IRB tournaments – USA (Los Angeles), New Zealand (Wellington), South Africa (George), Dubai, France (Bordeaux) and England (London).

The seeding represents a major step forward for sevens in the country of its birth given that the Scots did not qualify for the last world cup in 2001 in Argentina. Scotland have competed in all four of the eight IRB tournaments so far this season and finished in the top eight in both Dubai and Wellington.

SRU Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan said: “The decision to award sevens caps to the Rugby World Cup squad is a significant statement about the status of sevens in world rugby and in particular in the weeks leading up to the RWC. We recognise the level of competition in which Scotland compete on the IRB circuit and congratulate them for their achievements, particularly over the last 18 months.”

Scotland Sevens coach Rob Moffat said: “It is an important development for the Scotland Sevens squad and I feel it stresses the significance of being selected for your country. As well as this, it emphasises the position of sevens as a development tool and as a game in its own right within Scottish Rugby.”

Scotland Sevens captain David Gray said: “It is a great honour for the players to be presented with sevens caps. To be selected to represent your country is something special but to receive a cap is further recognition of just how important it is. It puts an official stamp on your involvement in the Rugby World Cup squad.”

Scotland Sevens squad to compete in the IRB Rugby World Cup in Hong Kong from 18-20 March 2005

Mark Lee (The Army), David Gray (Gala) CAPTAIN, Alasdair Strokosch (Edinburgh Rugby and Scottish Institute of Sport), Kelly Brown (The Borders and Scottish Institute of Sport), Oli Brown (Boroughmuir), Kenny Sinclair (Glasgow Hawks), Andrew Turnbull (The Borders), Colin Gregor (Watsonians), Calum MacRae (The Borders and Scottish Institute of Sport), Roland Reid (London Irish), Clark Laidlaw (Jed-Forest) and Jamie Blackwood (Watsonians)

This article was posted on 3-Mar-2005, 12:53 by Hugh Barrow.