Riddell to captain Scotland 7s in Bucharest

Scotland 7s forward Scott Riddell will captain the abbreviated national team this weekend (Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September) at the FIRA-AER European Grand Prix Sevens Series event in Bucharest.The tournament will be a chance for the coaching staff to measure where the team are ahead of the first leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Australia on the Gold Coast on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October. The side will be a mix of experience and youth with Gregor Young making his first outing and Joseva Nayacavou returning after being involved in Lyon. Watsonians’ 21-year-old centre Jack Ferguson has also been named. The remainder of the squad is made up of professionals Struan Dewar, Michael Maltman, Chris Dean, Alex Glashan, Mark Robertson, James Johnstone, Andrew Turnbull and James Fleming, who have all had game time in the RBS Premiership the past fortnight. Head coach, Stephen Gemmell, said: “A number of our players have played in the RBS Premiership recently as we conclude the pre-season phase of our training. This weekend’s tournament in Romania will be our next step ahead of the HSBC Sevens World Series. “The Gold Coast is less than a month away, so it’s important our players are back playing in the sevens game, so we can measure and develop where we are at.”The FIRA-AER tournaments are good for us because there is the challenge of playing seven games over two days and you play a mix of teams who will also be finalising their preparations for the HSBC Sevens World Series, as well as other European opposition who are continuing to improve in strength.”Michael Fedo, Colin Gregor and John Houston, among others, have not been selected on this occasion as they are recovering from injury, but Houston will be given match time as he is released to Edinburgh Accies for this weekend’s game against Melrose.” In Romania the Scotland side will play Ukraine (8.22am on Saturday), Germany (11.38am on Saturday), France (2.54pm on Saturday), Russia (5.26pm on Saturday) and Spain (9.06pm on Sunday) in Pool B. All times are UK time. Scotland 7s team to play in the FIRA-AER European Grand Prix Sevens Series tournament in Bucharest on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September: Struan Dewar, Scott Riddell (captain), Michael Maltman, Chris Dean, Joseva Nayacavou, Gregor Young, Alex Glashan, Jack Ferguson, Mark Robertson, James Johnstone, Andrew Turnbull and James Fleming.Not available due to injury: Colin Gregor (knee), Michael Fedo (shoulder), Colin Shaw (shoulder), Neil Herron (knee), Russell Weir (knee) and Lewis Young (shoulder).