CIARAN BEATTIE, the erstwhile Scotland Men’s Sevens coach, has been named Programme Lead for the Men’s and Women’s GB7s teams for the 2023 World Rugby Sevens Series. That means he will oversee both programmes, as well as serving as men’s assistant coach.
The new set-up has created following the controversial decision in July to amalgamate the English, Scottish and Welsh national sevens squads for the Series so as to better align with Olympic qualification requirements.
Six other Scots have been announced as part of the structure. Robbie Fergusson has been given a player/coach role which will see him focuss on technical skill areas of the game with both squads.
Kaleem Barreto, Jamie Farndale, Paddy Kelly Ross McCann and Max McFarland are also in the 16 strong men’s core squad (who will have Tony Roques as their head coach).
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The squad also features Englishman Freddie Roddick, who played in the Premiership with Musselburgh whilst studying at Heriot Watt University, and Tom Williams, who played for Ayrshire Bulls during their 2021 Super6 Championship winning season.
There are nine players in the women’s squad at the moment, all of whom were previously core England players, with the remainder of the selection subject to additions to be determined upon the conclusion of the current Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will consist of 11 men’s and 7 women’s rounds from November to May, with final legs being staged in London for the men, and Toulouse for the women.
“It has taken a great deal of hard work from everyone connected with GB7s to be able to announce the initial core players for both men’s and women’s squads for the upcoming season,” said Beattie.
“The 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is a matter of weeks away, and we are pleased to have squads in camp in preparation for that opening men’s event in Hong Kong in November.
“The women’s squad will continue to train, with more players to be added in due course, ahead of the Dubai legs in December.”
GB7s core squads for 2023 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series –
- Men’s
- Jamie Adamson
- Jamie Barden
- Kaleem Barreto
- Api Bavadra
- Alex Davis
- Tom Emery
- Jamie Farndale
- Robbie Fergusson
- Will Homer
- Paddy Kelly
- Ross McCann
- Max McFarland
- Freddie Roddick
- Morgan Williams
- Tom Williams
- Ethan Waddleton
- Women’s
- Ellie Boatman
- Abbie Brown
- Heather Cowell
- Megan Jones
- Alicia Maude
- Isla Norman-Bell
- Celia Quansah
- Jade Shekells
- Emma Uren
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Anyone else disappointed not to see Femi Sofolarin or Jordan Edmunds in there? Both looked very promising this season for Scotland and I hope they are not lost to professional rugby.
I wish the Scottish lads all the best, but can’t bring myself to support that team. I just feel nothing for it. I used to love watching the Sevens (often instead of working from home!), but the joy of that comp has been significantly reduced for me now. It’s a Scottish Rugby failure that they haven’t got a Scottish sevens rugby team in there.
And before this gets de-railed, no I’m not making a political point. I don’t even live in Scotland any more.