The IRB Sevens World Series gets underway next weekend in Dubai before moving onto George in South Africa and Scotland 7s coach Stephen Gemmell has selected a strong squad containing Edinburgh wing Andrew Turnbull. To listen to Turnbull’s thoughts on his recall into the seven-a-side game please click here._Gemmell said: ‘there’s some continuity in our squad now. Weve got Scott Forrest, Mike Adamson and Colin Shaw who have sevens as their main competition._It’s nice to have that backbone and also having Hefin OHare and Andrew Turnbull involved in the squad who were in London and Edinburgh last season. That’s five players there who have been involved in consecutive semi-finals.{mp3remote}http://www.edinburghrugby.org/images/stories/audio/turnydubaipreview.mp3{/mp3remote}There are six new caps in the squad, among which are Bath scrum-half Mike Baxter, Sale Sharks back-rower David Tait and Glasgow’s formidable ball carrying flanker James Eddie._However, despite the influx of new faces, all but Tait have been involved in the squad’s pre-season camps in Delhi and France, the first time the sevens squad has undertaken such a thorough pre-season regime._Gemmell also announced the return of full-time professionals Hefin OHare and Andrew Turnbull, both of whom were involved in Scotland’s first ever semi-final spots in London and Edinburgh last year._He continued: Weve had good support from both pro-teams again in getting release of Hefin [OHare], Turny [Andrew Turnbull] as well as James Eddie. Im excited by the squad._All of the players in this squad, with the exception of David Tait, were either with us in Delhi or in France. The squad is selected on merit and David is someone weve been aware of in terms of being Scottish qualified playing at Sale._He’s been involved in the Guinness Premiership and the Heineken Cup this year. He’s a rangy ball carrying number eight so that gives us yet another string to our bow._Weve maybe, in the past, not always had that strength in depth and I feel with this squad of 12 that weve got here that that we have got strength in depth._All of these players firstly will have to play, but secondly are more than capable of playing, and when weve had that in the past, weve done well._Meanwhile, as the senior Scotland team continues to inspire the nation through their winning performances in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Tests, Gemmell hopes that his charges can continue to enthuse rugby fans as the nation builds towards the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year._I hope that through our performances on the World Series this year, we can enthuse people to get involved and interested in rugby, said Gemmell._’scotland have put out a massive statement over the last couple of weeks with victories over Fiji and Australia and weve now got to follow that._If we want people to get behind Scottish rugby then we need to be performing. Were just now all looking forward to getting on the plane, getting to Dubai and getting our preparation right so were ready to perform._The profile of rugby sevens has seen a sharp rise in recent months, not only due to the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, but its inclusion in the Olympic programme from the 2016 event in Rio De Janeiro._Now Gemmell admits that there are numerous targets for his side as a huge season for sevens nears the start line._It’s a new World Series and it’s an exciting year to be a part of it, he said. ‘the decision about the Olympics will have given everyone a new focus throughout the world._’the unique thing about sevens is that the majority of the top teams are part of the Commonwealth. So there’s one eye on the World Series and, as we near the end of the World Series in Edinburgh next year, people will start to look towards Delhi._For the players, and everyone involved in Scottish rugby, it’s a massive opportunity to be involved in the Commonwealth Games._Scotland 7s squad to compete at the IRB Sevens World Series events in Dubai (5 & 6 December) and George, South Africa (11 & 12 December): Scott Forrest* CAPTAIN, Mike Adamson*, Grant Anderson (Ayr)**, Mike Baxter (Bath), James Eddie (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Jericevich (Glasgow Hawks)**, Lee Jones (Selkirk), Stuart McInally (Watsonians)**, Hefin OHare (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Shaw*, David Tait (Sale Sharks), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh)_* = Fulltime Scotland 7s player.** = Member of Scottish Rugby’s Contracted National Academy_IRB Dubai Sevens, Pool B: Fiji, Samoa, Scotland, Zimbabwe_Scotland 7s Pool B fixtures on day one (Saturday 5 December) of the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens (5 & 6 December):Fiji v Scotland, 9.20am local time, 5.20am GMTSamoa v Scotland, 1.18pm local time, 9.18am GMTScotland v Zimbabwe, 4.32pm local time, 12.32pm GMT_IRB South Africa Sevens, Pool D: Scotland, England, Argentina, TunisiaScotland 7s Pool D fixtures on day one (Friday 11 December) of the Emirates Airline South Africa Sevens (11 & 12 December):Scotland v Argentina, 11.42am local time, 9.42am GMTScotland v Tunisia, 2.48pm local time, 12.48pm GMTScotland v England, 7.32pm local time, 5.32pm GMT_All the latest scores and reaction will be available on www.scottishrugby.org