Team Scotland announce 7s squads for 2022 Commonwealth Games

Team Scotland have today named their Men’s and Women’s squads for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, to be played between July 29 and 31.

Lee Jones is set for a remarkable fourth Games, having represented his country in Delhi (2010), Glasgow (2014) and the Gold Coast (2018) iterations already.

Lisa Thomson, an Olympian for Team GB last year in Tokyo, will complete an impressive Games double with her selection for Head Coach Scott Forrest’s Scotland Women.

Fellow Olympians Alec Coombes, Robbie Fergusson and Ross McCann will share Thomson’s distinction as part of a Men’s squad led by Head Coach Ciaran Beattie and captained by Jamie Farndale, who was also a part of the 2018 Gold Coast selection.

The Men’s selection is completed by Kaleem Barreto, Matt Davidson, Harvey Elms, Grant Hughes, Paddy Kelly, Jordan Edmunds, Jacob Henry and Femi Sofolarin.

The Women’s side will be led by co-captains Helen Nelson and Thomson, with many of the squad having impressed on the recent Rugby Europe Sevens Championship events in Lisbon and Krakow.

The remaining list comprises Rachel McLachlan, Emma Orr, Megan Gaffney, Eilidh Sinclair, Evie Gallacher, Caity Mattinson, Chloe Rollie, Shona Campbell, Liz Musgrove, Meryl Smith and Rhona Lloyd – the latter two having raced home for nine and eight tries respectively in those recent Rugby Europe events.

Ciaran Beattie, Head Coach for Team Scotland’s Men’s squad, said: “The 2022 Commonwealth Games is almost upon us and it’s a proud day to announce the players who will represent Team Scotland in Birmingham. It’s the culmination of a great deal of hard work over the past few years and I know how excited the squad is at the prospect of competing on such a grand stage.”

Scott Forrest, Head Coach for Team Scotland’s Women’s squad, added: “There’s a special feeling going into these Games, given they are the first Scotland has qualified for.

“The players named, as well as those who pushed for selection, put in so much effort to prepare for Birmingham and we can’t wait to get started.”

Lee Jones, ahead of his fourth Games, said: “To get selected for the Commonwealth Games is such an honour and it’s hard to believe this will be my fourth. This is a really talented group and one which I hope to play a small part in the success of in Birmingham.”

Women’s Co-Captain Lisa Thomson said: “I’m over the moon to be selected in the first Team Scotland women’s rugby sevens side at the Commonwealth Games.

“As a team, we want to inspire the next generation of rugby players and to have the chance to compete on the global stage gives us the perfect opportunity to showcase our sport.

“It’s always a privilege to pull on a Scotland jersey but to be a part of Team Scotland, alongside 17 other sports while being so close to home, it’s extra special.”

Jim Mallinder, Scottish Rugby’s Head of High Performance, said: “The Commonwealth Games is a very special event in the sevens rugby calendar and a real career highlight to represent your country on this major international stage. There has been a lot of hard work done in advance by the players, coaches and all their support teams to prepare for this event and we wish them well.

“Everyone at Scottish Rugby is proud of our squads heading to Birmingham and we’re excited to see them perform.”

Men’s Team Selection

Jamie Farndale (captain)

Alec Coombes

Ross McCann

Grant Hughes

Paddy Kelly

Kaleem Barreto

Robbie Fergusson

Matt Davidson

Harvey Elms

Lee Jones