Scotland 7S Turnie Up The Heat

Andrew Turnbull, the Edinburgh speedster, has been included in the Scotland 7s squad for the two forthcoming IRB Sevens World Series events in Hong Kong and Adelaide. On his last visit to Hong Kong with the squad in 2005, Turnbull – who is nicknamed Turnie – was among the top try-scorers at the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, having topped the table at the end of the second day of competition with seven tries.Andrew Turnbull, the Edinburgh speedster, has been included in the Scotland 7s squad for the two forthcoming IRB Sevens World Series events in Hong Kong and Adelaide. On his last visit to Hong Kong with the squad in 2005, Turnbull – who is nicknamed Turnie – was among the top try-scorers at the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, having topped the table at the end of the second day of competition with seven tries. His fast feet made him the talk of the tournament, and he helped Scotland to the Cup quarter-finals and a top-eight finish. Andrew, who has also tasted Commonwealth Games experience when he competed in Melbourne, Australia, in 2006, said: I’m really happy to be back involved with the Scotland 7s squad. I enjoyed playing sevens when I was previously involved because it’s a fast game and it suits the way I try and play. The squad have done really well so far this season and I’m looking forward to helping continue that momentum as we build towards the Edinburgh 7s at Murrayfield. Scotland 7s coach, Stephen Gemmell, added: Andrew brings experience as well as genuine pace and a real threat out wide which will help the way we play. National Academy players Roddy Grant and Ben Addison are also called up for the first time since their outings at the inaugural Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s in June 2007 having been unavailable for selection through injury. Gemmell continued: Roddy Grant is a powerful ball carrier and Ben Addison was probably the most consistent performer for us last season and he played in every tournament on the 2006/07 Series. Speaking about his squad selection, Gemmell commented: We have assembled a squad of players who all have experience of international rugby sevens for the first time this season. We have retained nine players from the last two tournaments in Wellington and San Diego which gives us real continuity going into these two legs of the Series. On the challenge that lies ahead, Gemmell concluded: The London and Edinburgh legs are dependant on results from Hong Kong and Adelaide so the next few weeks are hugely important for us. The boys know that the challenge is to build on our consistent form and they need to meet that head on. We deserve to be a top eight team. The challenge is to push on from here and improve on our nine consecutive Cup quarter-finals and finish on a high at Murrayfield. Scotland 7s squad (sponsor Murray) to compete in the IRB Sevens World Series tournaments in Hong Kong (28, 29 & 30 March) and Adelaide (5 & 6 April): Scott Forrest (Ayr)* CAPTAIN, Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Addison (Stirling County)*, Chris Fusaro (Heriot’s)**, Roddy Grant (Heriot’s)*, Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Scott Newlands (Edinburgh), Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors), James Thompson (Heriot’s)*, Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Ali Warnock (Edinburgh) * = Member of Scottish Rugby’s Senior National Academy * = Member of Scottish Rugby’s Junior National Academy and supported by Area Institute of Sport Scotland 7s’ Pool E fixtures on day one and day two of the IRB Hong Kong Sevens: Day 1 – Scotland 7s v Portugal, kick-off 7:32pm Day 2 – Scotland 7s v China, kick-off 10:52am Day 2 – Kenya v Scotland, kick-off 5:28pm (All times are local time.) Scotland 7s’ Pool A fixtures on day one of the IRB Adelaide Sevens: Scotland 7s v Cook Islands, kick-off 12:15pm Scotland 7s v Argentina, kick-off 3:21pm New Zealand v Scotland 7s, kick-off 7:26pm (All times are local time.) IRB Sevens World Series Dubai (UAE), 30 November-2 December George (South Africa), 7-8 December Wellington (New Zealand), 1-2 February San Diego (USA), 9-10 February Hong Kong (China), 28-30 March Adelaide (Australia), 5-6 April London (England), 24-25 May Edinburgh (Scotland), 31 May-1 June Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s – 2008 Rugby sevens will return to the country of its birth, Scotland, on 31 May & 1 June for the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s, the final leg of the IRB Sevens World Series. The Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s will feature the world’s top teams over two days of fast flowing, skilful and dynamic international rugby sevens together with a fun-packed Festival of Rugby on the back pitches at Murrayfield, making it the ‘not-to-be-missed’ event of the summer. The sevens are coming& back! Visit www.edinburgh7s.com