SEAN Kennedy, the Edinburgh scrum-half who has been called up for the Scotland tour, has given his backing to the beleaguered national sevens squad.
It emerged earlier this week - just days after Scotland retained their London Sevens title - that talks were under way to merge the English, Welsh and Scots sevens into a Team GB squad to compete in the World Series as well as at the Olympic Games. Kennedy did not criticise such a possibility directly, saying he had not heard much about it, but he did offer a strong defence of the Scotland squad, pointing out that it had improved considerably over the last two years.
“The sevens programme in Scotland is definitely working,” said the 26-year-old, a former member of the sevens squad. “You look at the players who have gone there, and who are playing there this season.
“We’ve got a really good squad. Their culture and work ethic is second to none. Those boys put in a lot of work, which is starting to show in the last two seasons. I’d hate to think they’d get rid of a Scotland sevens team, but as far as I know they’ve still got one for next season, which is really good.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Rugby Union said on Tuesday that plans were continuing for next season, with players being contracted and a new coach, John Dalziel, having just been appointed to succeed Calum MacRae. But the spokesperson could or would say nothing about subsequent seasons, allowing the obvious inference to be drawn: that the plan is for the three-way merger to be in place for the start of season 2018-19. There has also as yet been no confirmation of who has been negotiating on Scotland’s behalf in the merger talks, and what degree of support or opposition those talks have within Murrayfield.
While opposition to the planned merger is set to grow, the insistence that there will be a Scotland Sevens team for next season will be widely seen as no more than a very short-lived consolation, the immediate concern for Kennedy is forcing his way into contention for a cap. Having only joined the squad after his Edinburgh team-mate Sam Hidalgo-Clyne was ruled out by injury, he knows a faces a tough battle against Ali Price and Henry Pyrgos. In the absence of Greig Laidlaw, who has been called up by the Lions, the Glasgow duo are expected to fight it out for the No 9 jersey in the games against Italy, Australia and Fiji.
“I know where I stand in terms of these guys who have caps,” Kennedy added. “Henry and Ali played a lot in the Six Nations, whereas I’m uncapped. I’ve played a few games for Edinburgh, but I’ve not played towards the end of the season.
“I’m under no illusions that I’ve got a lot to do before I get near the match squad. I’m okay with that, because I know I’m not the finished article. This is a chance to get better, so I’m happy to be where I am. All three of us have similarities and slight differences as well.”
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