Scotland schools in National Sevens bid

George Watson’s College, Dollar Academy and Merchiston are flying the flag for Scotland in this week’s National School Sevens at Rosslyn Park, London.

The competition spans five different age levels in the boys’ competition, ranging from under-18 to under-13, and two in the girls’ category. In all, 809 teams are taking part in the boys’ tournaments and 54 in the girls’ competitions.

Watson’s are drawn in Group B of the U18 Vase tournament, one of 36 pools each containing five teams, and open their account with a tie against Park House School, Newbury before facing Leicestershire public school Uppingham. Watson’s then play Ipswich School and finish their pool matches against Kingswood School, Bath.

Dollar are in Group H and will face Manchester Grammar School in their opening pool match. Next up is Hereford Cathedral School and then Campion School, Essex. Dollar conclude their pool matches against Queen Elizabeth Hospital School, Bristol.

Merchiston take on the Bridgend School, Brynteg, in their opening match before facing Truro School, Lord Wandsworth College, Hampshire, and Shiplake College, Henleyon-thames.

The difficulty for the three Scottish sides is that they may be undercooked going into the Rosslyn Park tournament compared to their English and Welsh counterparts. The Goldenacre Sevens and the Merchiston Sevens should have provided the perfect warm-ups for Rosslyn Park, only for both to be cancelled because of winter weather.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Scottish Youth Cup finals at BT Murrayfield on Sunday, Ayr had a tough warm-up game against St Aloysius College, this season’s Schools Cup runners-up. St Aloysius marked their final game of a successful season with a stylish performance to run out winners by 35-7 with tries from Tino Mudoti (2), Daniel Norris, Luca Bardelli and Dylan Sabushimike, all converted by Adam Scott.