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.

He said: “Training this week has been really positive and with eight players in the side making it to every tournament so far there is an ever-increasing settled feel to the squad.

“Even the new players (Sean Kennedy, Hamish Watson, Byron McGuigan and Fraser Harkness) who have travelled for Wellington and Las Vegas, have been training with us over the past few months so are in the right mind set for the abbreviated game. It’s an exciting opportunity for them to perform and announce their arrival on the world stage.

 “We’re confident to go out and give this tournament our best shot.”

Following their opening match with New Zealand the team will then play Samoa at 5.30am (GMT) and Japan at 7.28am (GMT), with their eye completely focused on reaching their first Cup quarter-final.

Shiel continued: “We want to reach our first Cup quarter-final here in Wellington. It’s a simple aim but a stepping stone to keep building on the growing continuity of our full-time sevens squad.

“First up we have New Zealand and it goes without saying that they are the best sevens team in the world. It’s a great challenge taking them on to start with and on their turf, but we must improve on the last time we met in South Africa (45-0). It’s an exciting challenge and we will go into this game with optimism.

“Second we have Samoa. Their team this year is quite unfamiliar to us but we know this is a must win game if we are to fulfil our aim, and finally Japan. We have to control this game and perform well to ensure the win.”

Glasgow 7s tickets on sale now:

Glasgow 7s is the penultimate leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series and will take place at Scotstoun Stadium for the first time this year on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 May.

Early Bird tickets for the Glasgow 7s are on sale now at the price of just £10 for those who buy before the end of the RBS 6 Nations (17 March). All concessions are at half the equivalent adult price.  Tickets will be sold for particular stands and designated days, with two-day ‘weekend’ tickets also available.  

For more information on the tournament and for the latest news on Scotland 7s visit www.glasgow7s.com and follow us on Twitter @Glasgow7s.