Rowe and Farndale return for Scotland 7s ahead of North American events

Kyle Rowe and Jamie Farndale have been named in the Scotland squad for the upcoming HSBC World Sevens Series events in Los Angeles and Vancouver.

The first of those legs, played at the Dignity Health Sports Park on the outskirts of Los Angeles, will be the first time that venue has been used on the circuit, having previously been held in Las Vegas.

Rowe’s return comes after he missed the previous two tournaments in Hamilton and Sydney with a shoulder injury, while Edinburgh winger Farndale links up with the squad, replacing Dougie Fife.

Nyle Godsmark is named in the 12-man squad after being 13^th man last month, with that role now being taken by Tom Brown.

In LA, Scotland have been drawn in Pool C with the hosts USA, Australia and Samoa, with games taking place on Saturday and Sunday (GMT), with further fixtures determined by how the four pools finish.

Unlike the previous two tournaments, where only group winners progressed and were guaranteed two more games, events in LA and Vancouver will offer every team the opportunity to feature in multiple fixtures.

Head Coach Ciaran Beattie said: “We are delighted to get back into live action and the events are structured in a way that excites us.

“It was extremely difficult to name a final squad for these tournaments which is testament to how well the boys have trained since Sydney.

“We know USA and Australia well from recent encounters and will have to be at our best to compete with those sides, as well as a very good Samoan squad.”

Scotland 7s squad to compete in the Los Angeles and Vancouver legs of the 2019/20 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series:

1. Paddy Kelly (2)
2. Ally Miller (17)
3. Alec Coombes (13)
4. Robbie Fergusson CAPTAIN (23)
5. Harvey Elms (19)
6. Kyle Rowe (3)
7. Jamie Farndale (41)
8. Nyle Godsmark (30)
9. Sam Pecqueur (14)
10. Gavin Lowe (38)
11. Max McFarland (24)
12. Ross McCann (15)
13. Tom Brown (10)

(World Series tournaments in brackets)

Scotland 7s fixtures for HSBC World Sevens Series leg in Los Angeles – live on Sky Sports (all time shown in GMT)

Saturday 29 February

Australia 7s v Scotland 7s (kick-off 7.57pm)

USA 7s v Scotland 7s (kick-off 11.37am)

Sunday 1 March

Scotland 7s v Samoa 7s (kick-off 3.35am)

All other fixtures dependent on pool stage results