Sevens legend Waisale Serevi has tipped a strengthened Scotland team to make a big impact in the final two legs of the IRB Sevens World Series, including their home event the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens Festival on 30-31 May.
 
The tournament at Murrayfield will bring the curtain down on the 2008/09 IRB Sevens World Series, in which South Africa currently lead the race for the overall title.

Serevi represented Fiji 39 times between 1989 to 2003 but is best known for his role in popularising the shorter form of the game with his breathtaking skills. Many consider him the greatest Sevens rugby player of all time.

The Fiji Sevens coach recently returned to Scotland to work with the home side at the Mathon Melrose Sevens and has been enthused by the national team selections for the Series climax, which include international flanker Ally Hogg and RBS Six Nations wing Thom Evans.

“These players, I think, are a bonus for the team and I thank the Scottish Rugby Union for bringing them in”, said Serevi.

“Performance is important to all club or international supporters – they always enjoy watching their team win a game or a tournament, it is very important. I hope that the Scotland team might bring a few surprises like they did last year, when they beat Fiji.”

Last year the Scots triumphed over the Fijians 19-14 in a dramatic Plate semi final, before eventually losing in the final against the Boks.

This year they have won the Plate at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai but are yet to take a ranking point in the six Series events played to date - in Dubai, George, Wellington, San Diego, Hong Kong and Adelaide.

However, the Scots are always a different proposition on home soil, and especially at their home of rugby, Murrayfield.

“Scotland can win the Edinburgh Sevens but they need the support of the people in Scotland to come in numbers to support their national team playing at home," said Serevi.

“Coming here, to where Sevens started 126 years ago, I think it is an honour and a privilege for the players – this is where Sevens started so to have the last leg of the IRB Sevens in Edinburgh is very good.”

Edinburgh Sevens Tickets

- Adult one day advance ticket - £15 (£20 on the day)
- Family one day advance ticket - £35 (two adults & two children) - £50 on the day
- Senior one day citizen - £10
- One day student and under-18 - £10 and £5

Tickets are available by logging onto www.scottishrugbytickets.com, by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0871 200 1511 (open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday), or in person from the Murrayfield Ticket Centre in Roseburn Street, Edinburgh (open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday).

Scotland squad to compete at the final two events on the IRB Sevens World Series, London (23-24 May) and Edinburgh (30-31 May): Scott Forrest (Ayr)* CAPTAIN, Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Thom Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh), John Houston (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Hefin O’Hare (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors), Jim Thompson (Edinburgh), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh) * = Member of Scottish Rugby’s Contracted National Academy