Scotland squad announced for Safari Sevens adventure in Kenya

Pictured: Ben McDonald during a Scotland Sevens training session at the Oriam, on October 02, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The competition takes place from Friday, 9 October, to Sunday, 11 October, with Scotland being drawn in a group alongside Kenya Shujaa, Uganda Sevens, and Sportpesa Fast Forward Sevens.

Head Coach Ciaran Beattie has been working with a contracted core of Scotland Sevens players, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors Academy prospects, and members of the Scottish Thistles side which competed in Melrose earlier this year, to ensure his side is ready for an intense weekend of rugby.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 02: Daniel Kelly during a Scotland Sevens training session at the Oriam, on October 02, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

His 13-man squad consists of a mix of the aforementioned three, providing experience and youthful energy in Africa.

Ross McCann, Ben Salmon, Freddie Owsley and Lewis Wells comprise the contracted core, with Glasgow Warriors’ Academy player Alex Bryden and Edinburgh Rugby Academy players Ben McDonald, Daniel Kelly, Hamish MacCarthur and Nairn Moncrieff involved.

Finn Callaghan, Ritchie Mitchell, Murray Waugh, and Struan White finish the 13-strong squad off.

Callaghan, Owsley, Wells and Waugh were all a part of the Scottish Thistles side that was successful earlier this year at the prestigious Melrose Sevens tournament.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 02: Lewis Wells during a Scotland Sevens training session at the Oriam, on October 02, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Head Coach Beattie said: “We’ve got a good mix of club, National Talent Pathway, Academy, and professional players in our squad for our trip to Kenya, which is exactly what it’s all about.

“Struan White is an exciting young player coming up through the club game, much like Murray Waugh from an NTP side of things, and we’re really excited to see them wear the Thistle at an international stage.

“A lot of the Academy selections have come on leaps and bounds over the last few weeks with us, or over the last year through different camp selections and involvements, so we’re really looking forward to seeing how they’re going to mix in with our professional core and fight for a positive weekend in Nairobi, Kenya.”

Scotland Sevens squad to feature at Safari Sevens:

Alex Bryden (Glasgow Warriors Academy)
Finn Callaghan (Unattached)
Daniel Kelly (Edinburgh Rugby Academy)
Ross McCann (Scotland Sevens) – Captain
Hamish MacArthur (Edinburgh Rugby Academy)
Ben McDonald (Edinburgh Rugby Academy)
Ritchie Mitchell (Edinburgh Accies)
Nairn Moncrieff (Edinburgh Rugby Academy)
Freddie Owsley (Scotland Sevens)
Ben Salmon (Scotland Sevens)
Murray Waugh (Glasgow National Talent Pathway 3)
Lewis Wells (Scotland Sevens)
Struan White (Glasgow Hutchesons’ Aloysians)