Stuart Hogg has been named in the Scotland 7’s squad to compete at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (Ibrox Stadium, Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July).
Scottish Rugby and Commonwealth Games Scotland can confirm Scotland’s 24 times capped full-back and British & Irish Lion will replace Tommy Seymour. Seymour sustained a neck injury during the Scotland summer tour that will rule him out of the Games, however he will return to the care of Glasgow Warriors to recover and prepare for the new season.
SRU
Scotland 7’s head coach, Stephen Gemmell, said: “It is disappointing to lose Tommy, however I’m delighted to be able to bring in a player of Stuart Hogg’s calibre into our Commonwealth Games squad and would like to thank Team Scotland, Scottish Rugby and Glasgow Warriors in helping make this selection happen.”
Hogg, who plays his club rugby with Glasgow Warriors, won his four most recent Scotland caps, in each game, of the recently concluded summer tour to America, Canada, Argentina and South Africa. He scored two of his six international tries against USA and Argentina in June.
Though he has not won any caps with the abbreviated national team, the short game is a code he is familiar with having grown up in Hawick, in the Scottish Borders, where he played on the Kings of the Sevens circuit.
Also, in his professional career, in XV’s, he has shown skills that are suited to the short game.
Gemmell continued: “Stuart is somebody who has shown at every level of his XVs career what he is capable of. He is a player who excites fans and he has shown time and time again he can contribute significantly in both attack and defence. Though he has not yet played international sevens he comes from a background in the Borders that has been heavily influenced by the abbreviated game. His game understanding along with the skills he has developed as a professional will I am sure prove a strong addition to our existing playing group.”
“I’m excited about him joining the squad and contributing to a successful performance at Ibrox.”
Scotland 7’s will compete in Sevens and the City at Allianz Park in Hendon, North London on Saturday 12 July. This will be their last competitive tournament before they take to the field at Ibrox Stadium at the Commonwealth Games.
The Team Scotland Rugby Sevens Team for Glasgow 2014
Richie Vernon, James Eddie (both Glasgow Warriors), James Johnstone (Scotland 7s), Roddy Grant (Edinburgh Rugby), Scott Riddell, Colin Shaw (both Scotland 7s), Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Gregor, Scott Wight (both Scotland 7s), Mark Bennett, Sean Lamont and Stuart Hogg (all Glasgow Warriors).
Stuart Hogg discusses his selection
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDo5kQ-gecI[/youtube]
Roddy Grant speaks about being back with Scotland Sevens
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKZ5ROXXfW8[/youtube]