Scots’ stunning show puts spanner in the works
SCOTLAND will return to the world series sevens circuit next season proudly under the Saltire, but discussions are continuing over the possibility of Scotland, Wales and England coming together in the future and competing as Great Britain.
Five Scots are currently involved in the Team GB 25-man training squad now preparing for the Rio Olympics — Mark Robertson, Jamie Farndale, Gavin Lowe, Scott Riddell and Mark Bennett — with a final 12 named in July, but the RFU, SRU and WRU are debating whether to stick with that arrangement post-Games in an effort to be more competitive and save money.
The Scotland team may have made them think again. After persuading the SRU to scrap plans to withdraw from the world series last year Calum MacRae’s squad repaid the faith in glittering style on Sunday with a first-ever World Series Cup win at Twickenham.
Two tries in the final minute by Dougie Fife, after brilliant sevens nous by skipper Scott Wight and the rest of the team, stunned favourites South Africa in a dramatic finale. Talented head coach MacRae praised his entire squad from the past season and revealed that he is hopeful of keeping them together for next season — and signing Fife, released by Edinburgh, as a full-time sevens player. ‘We just have a few details to iron out but I’m hopeful we’ll have the same model and same core squad next season,’ said MacRae. ‘Obviously, our representation in the Olympics will be as Team GB and our boys involved have earned their chance to be part of something special.
‘We have also shown, however, that we can compete as Scotland and help to develop players in 15s with Damien Hoyland, Chris Dean, Magnus Bradbury and Glenn Bryce recent examples of that.
‘The success last week was the culmination of a lot of hard work over a long time to make Scotland competitive with the best in the world, by a large group of players and dedicated backroom staff.
‘The boys showed what can be achieved with continuity and consistency in selection and I am confident that we can build on what we have achieved this season.’