Scotland 7S Receibe Ministerial Support

The Scotland 7s squad welcomed their highest profile fan today as Scotland’s Minister for Public Health and Sport, Shona Robison MSP, arrived at the team hotel ahead of the Rugby World Cup Sevens which commences this afternoon.The Scotland 7s squad welcomed their highest profile fan today as Scotland’s Minister for Public Health and Sport, Shona Robison MSP, arrived at the team hotel ahead of the Rugby World Cup Sevens which commences this afternoon.On meeting the squad, Robison said: “I would like to wish the Scotland squad the very best of luck at the IRB World Cup Sevens. I know the Scotland squad will continue to be excellent ambassadors and a great source of pride for their country during the tournament.”Accepting the Scottish Rugby Union’s invitation to attend this tournament gives me the chance to offer my support and to see first hand the organisation that goes in to hosting a major event for a sport which will feature in the programme for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. “I am looking forward to seeing the Scottish team take part in this fast, exciting game and hope the rest of the country will get behind them when they take the field in Dubai and come out to cheer them on at Murrayfield in May when the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens Festival is held as the final event in the 2008/9 IRB Sevens World Series.”Scottish Rugby chief executive, Gordon McKie, added: “We’re delighted to have the Minister for Public Health and Sport out with us in Dubai not only to support the Scotland 7s squad in this Rugby World Cup, but also to assist with the significant amount of planning that is required ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where rugby sevens is a core sport. It’s also a great opportunity to introduce the Minister to the many stakeholders that are here from the world of rugby”Prior to taking the field in their first game against Canada, Scotland 7s captain Colin Gregor echoed McKie’s sentiments: “It’s great to have the Minister for Public Health and Sport out in Dubai getting behind the squad.”It’s a huge honour to play for your country and having the Minister here brings home the reality of how important sport is to Scotland’s future, especially as my home city will be hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014.” Scotland 7s’ Rugby World Cup Sevens Pool C fixturesDay one (5 March) – Scotland v Canada (kick-off 5:32pm local time, 1:32pm GMT)Day two (6 March) – Scotland v Japan (kick-off 2:18pm local time, 10:18am GMT)Day two (6 March) – South Africa v Scotland (kick-off 5:58pm local time, 1:58pm GMT) All of Scotland’s games are broadcast live on Setanta Sports 1 and are also available to view online through www.rwcsevens.com  To purchase tickets for the final leg of the IRB Sevens World Series – the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens Festival – simply log onto www.scottishrugbytickets.com, call the Ticket Hotline on 0131 346 5100 (open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday) or drop-in in person to the Murrayfield Ticket Centre (open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday).