Seven new caps in Scotland Women 7s squad

Head Coach Graham Shiel has announced his Scotland Women 7s squad to compete in the first leg of the Rugby Europe Sevens Women’s Trophy in Prague this weekend (18-19 June). With a mix of experience and youth, the 12-women squad are looking to test themselves on the international stage following two preparation tournaments in Amsterdam and London.Over half of the squad are set to gain their first Scotland Women 7s cap including Lisa Thomson and Helen Nelson, who made their full international debuts in this year’s Women’s Six Nations.Chloe Rollie, Abigail Evans, Kristy McConnell, Mhairi Grieve and Deborah McCormack are also set to make their debut in the abbreviated game.Scotland Women captain Lisa Martin adds her experience and is joined by rapid wingers and fellow internationalists Eilidh Sinclair and Megan Gaffney, who trained with Team GB’s Rugby Women Sevens squad earlier this season.Head Coach Graham Shiel said: “The extended squad has been training for the past three months with a combination of skills-based sessions and sevens-specific skills.”Our two preparation tournaments exposed the players to the level of competition they would experience in the European events.”Ultimately, playing is the best preparation and it was great to take two squads to Amsterdam and London, where they were very competitive in both.”The squad has progressed well with the biggest challenges ahead and it will be good to see how they fair against other European teams at this level.This is a group of driven players, who want to continue to improve and competing against international competition will provide a good reference of where they are currently operating and what they need to continue to work on to make further improvements.”Scotland Women 7s are top seeds in Prague and will meet Israel, Czech Republic and Switzerland in the Pool A of the Rugby Europe Sevens Women’s Trophy.Results will be posted on the Rugby Europe website and games will be live streamed on Rugby Europe TV. Scotland Women 7s squad to play in the Rugby Europe Sevens Women’s Trophy in PragueSaturday 18 June and Sunday 19 June 2016  Deborah McCormack (Richmond RFC)Eilidh Sinclair* (Murrayfield Wanderers)Kirsty McConnell (Hillhead/Jordanhill)Megan Gaffney (Hillhead/Jordanhill)Helen Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers / Edinburgh University)Jenny Maxwell (Leeds Met Uni/Lichfield)Mhairi Grieve* (RHC Cougars/ Edinburgh UniversityLisa Martin* (Murrayfield Wanderers)Lisa Thomson* (Melrose RFC / Edinburgh University)Abigail Evans (Hillhead/Jordanhill)Chloe Rollie* (Murrayfield Wanderers)Lauren Harris (Melrose RFC) * BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 2 players 2015-16