Scotland 7s World Cup Squad Announced

10 Jul 2018

Scotland have named their twelve-man squad to compete for the Melrose Cup at this month’s Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco.

Scott Riddell captains the squad at what will be his third World Cup and is the only member of the travelling party to have competed at a World Cup previously.

BT Premiership player for the 2017/18 season Craig Jackson is included. The Melrose man, already capped by Scotland 7s, also represented Scotland Club XV last season and won the 2011 Melrose 7s alongside now Head Coach John Dalziel.

Sam Pecquer is involved for the first time since the Cape Town World Series tournament having recovered from a leg injury that kept him out for most of the season.

Six of the twelve were also members of the Team Scotland squad that competed at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April.

Scotland hosted the first ever Rugby World Cup Sevens back in 1993 and their best ever finish came in Hong Kong in 2005 when they finished 5th.

Their performances and placings up until this seasons’s Hong Kong tournament secured Scotland qualification and they automatically qualify for the round of 16 where they await the winner of Kenya v Tonga.

The new tournament structure is such that every match counts and John Dalziel’s side will need to win their opening match to qualify for the Championship and be in with a chance of lifting the Melrose Cup.

Scotland 7s Head Coach John Dalziel said: “We’re looking to build on the experiences gained by this group so far this season. The World Cup is a unique tournament to be involved in and both preparing for and competeing at it will be great development for the young players in our squad.

“Craig (Jackson) has a great rugby brain that he has displayed when he trained with us at various points throughout the season. He has previous Scotland 7s experince and brings a skill set that compliments our other two half backs.

“It’s great to have Sam (Pecquer) and Alec (Coombes) back after injury. They’re physical, versitile players that give us a point of difference and a differnet dynamic in both attack and defence.”