Rugby: SRU want large numbers for their party sevens

Scotland sevens coach Graham Shiel is urging supporters to turn out in large numbers for next month's Emirates Airline Edinburgh tournament at Murrayfield, insisting that the vociferous backing of the home crowd can help his side challenge for honours.

The Scots, who won last season's Plate competition, face a stern test in the pool stages, with current series champions Samoa, the multi-skilled Fijians, and an athletic USA squad providing the opposition.

While acknowledging the scale of the challenge his men face, Shiel is desperate to mark the team's first appearance on home soil since he assumed the coaching responsibilities with a performance equal to last year's effort which yielded victories over the Fijians and the Americans on the way to clinching silverware in the consolation competition.

"The physicality and skill brought by the current Series champions Samoa, and Fiji, world famous for their sevens talents, is well-documented so these matches are a chance for us to put a marker down.

"The crowd's a huge factor at the Edinburgh Sevens. It's a real party occasion. The players are very professional and fully focused but it's important to enjoy the environment, especially at Murrayfield in front of a vocal home crowd willing you on."

After six of the eight rounds in this year's HSBC World Sevens Series, the Samoans lie third behind New Zealand and England - hosts of the penultimate tournament a week before the Murrayfield event - while Fiji occupy fifth spot.

And, to help the Scottish crowd to make its presence felt, organisers have created standing sections at Murrayfield. Scott Hastings, event ambassador, believes the move will add to the carnival atmosphere that has prevailed in each of Edinburgh's four previous tournaments.

"Sevens is a great excuse for a party - the seating is unrestricted, the music's loud and the outfits are even louder. It's a very social event," he said.

"The game of rugby sevens, delivers high performance drama, excitement and unpredictability, so the marriage of the action on the pitch and fun elements off it make for a superb day out for families, party goers and committed rugby fans alike."

Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens

Pool A: New Zealand, Argentina, Russia, France

Pool B: England, Wales, Portugal, Spain

Pool C: South Africa, Australia, Canada, Kenya

Pool D: Samoa, Fiji, USA, Scotland

Saturday, May 28

First tie: New Zealand v Russia (10.30am)

Fiji v Scotland (1.04pm)

Samoa v Scotland (3.48pm)

Scotland v USA (7.11pm)

Last tie: Scotland v USA (kick-off 7.11pm)

Sunday, May 29

First tie: Bowl quarter-final (10.00am)

Last tie: Cup final (5.36pm)