Big guns back for Moscow

RUGBY SEVENS

Scotland are in Moscow for the second round of the FIRA-AER European Grand Prix Sevens Series as part of their preparations for the Commonwealth Games tournament at Ibrox next month, writes Alan Lorimer.

For this tournament, contested by the 12 nations which took part in the first round in Lyon three weeks ago, Stephen Gemmell, the coach, has recalled key players in Roddy Grant, Mark Bennett, Lee Jones, James Eddie and Scott Riddell to try to create team cohesion.

“It’s important that these players come together now in a competitive situation,” he said. “This weekend’s tournament will sharpen our focus again before we move into preparation camp in Stirling in a week’s time, then our final competition [Sevens in the City] in London, on Saturday July 12.”

Scotland are in Pool B with Germany, Portugal and Belgium which may sound straightforward but Belgium showed how rapidly they are improving in sevens by finishing runners-up to France in Lyon three weeks ago after a run that included wins over Scotland and England.

Scotland, were second in their pool in Lyon but lost to Russia in the cup quarter-final on the second day, before going on to win the plate with defeats of Germany and Georgia. SQUAD. Scotland 7s S Riddell, R Grant

S Dewar, J Johnstone, C Gregor, M Bennett A Turnbull, N Godsmark G Young, L Young, L Jones J Eddie Pool A France, England, Georgia, Romania Pool B Scotland, Belgium, Germany, Portugal Pool C Russia, Wales, Spain, Italy