Scotland don’t just play England this weekend but also New Zealand, Samoa and Japan.  Those last three, though, not in the cauldron of Murrayfield but the expanse of the Westpac Stadium in the HSBC Sevens World Series.

A world apart maybe but both national sides will be keeping a close eye on the other as they bid for victory.

Tomorrow morning Scotland 7s will kick-off their fourth HSBC Sevens World Series campaign in Wellington, going head-to-head with hosts and reigning champions New Zealand before meeting Samoa and Japan in Pool A.

With only four new faces in the squad from that which travelled to Australia, Dubai and South Africa earlier this season, the team are continuing to gel well together. They are looking to improve on their opening three tournaments by reaching the Cup quarter-finals and for the youngsters welcomed into the side there is a chance to show what they can do on the world stage.

The Scots will start their day with New Zealand at 2.12am (GMT) and for head coach, Graham Shiel, the team are acclimatised and ready to compete.

The Scotland and England national Sevens teams have been stirring up the rivalry between the two nations ahead of the eagerly anticipated Calcutta Cup clash this weekend, by taking part in a ‘coffee making’ competition at Mojo coffee shop in down town Wellington.
New Zealand is renowned for the number of coffee shops on its shores, reputedly having more per capita than any country in the world. In the capital Wellington, Kiwis pride themselves on their coffee.

Before settling in for the long haul to New Zealand, the Scotland 7s squad today took the opportunity to mark 100 days until the inaugural Glasgow 7s which will be held at Scotstoun Stadium in May.

The squad set out from Edinburgh Airport this morning en route to Wellington and then onto Las Vegas, but flanker James Eddie, Glasgow born and bred, said the squad are already excited about playing in front of a sell-out crowd on home soil in the penultimate leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series.