Lowe given Scotland 7s call

Scotland 7s have one new cap among their ranks for the forthcoming HSBC Sevens World Series tournaments in Dubai (Friday 5 and Saturday 6 December) and South Africa (Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December). Gavin Lowe, who is part of the BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy, will add to his international honours having represented Scotland at under-20 and under-18 levels previously.Fellow Academy player and age-grade internationalist Damien Hoyland will also return to the squad to win his second cap.Lowe said: “I’m really looking forward to this new challenge and getting to experience the world stage.I know it’s going to be physically demanding but the boys have talked me through what it will be like. I can’t wait to feel the atmosphere and to get a shot.”I want to do my best for the team. Head coach Calum MacRae has made a further three changes to the squad that travelled to the Gold Coast for the opening leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series.James Eddie and Colin Shaw return to the abbreviated national team for the first time since the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, replacing Gregor Young and Struan Dewar respectively. Joseva Nayacavou is back on sevens duty for the first time since the corresponding rounds last year. He comes in for Rory Hughes.Nyle Godsmark, who could win his second cap, is also included after signing full-time for Scotland 7s earlier this month.MacRae said: “Gavin has adapted to training very well and has worked hard since he entered the programme.”He is a quality ball player and is a genuine attacking threat, I’m very much looking forward to seeing how he performs.”Joe and James will bring their dynamic ball carrying to this squad. For me, Joe has worked hard coming back from an injury at the start of the season and has a strong offloading ability. “James played well at the back end of last year’s Series and can’t wait to get back out there again.”Finally, Colin has a huge amount of experience under his belt. He has shown in the past that he can perform well at this level. This is an opportunity for him to show me what he has to offer the team and to take his good form from training into competition.In training over the past few weeks we have looked on the teams we’ll come up against in our group. The tackle contest will be a focus because our three opponents will be very physical in that area.  “Our fitness levels have stepped up a gear from the work done with our new Strength and Conditioning coach, Nick Lumley.  I’m looking for that to transfer into a relentless defensive effort and high tempo attacking game.Scotland 7s play Samoa (6.30am), New Zealand (9.52am) and Japan (3.25pm) on day one (Friday 5 December) in Pool B in Dubai (all times are BST, live on Sky Sports 3).