The Scotland Rugby 7s squad took time out today to explore the Games Village after arriving in Delhi yesterday morning.

Following a light weights session at the gym this morning, the squad toured round the international zone taking time to pose for photographers before heading to a pool session at the village leisure complex.

Scott Newlands and Hefin O’Hare, both experienced IRB series players, are adjusting well and already settling into their daily routine which includes much more than just their physical training sessions.

O’Hare said, “We’ve all been on the IRB Sevens World Series and this is how it’s run for us, so we’re just slipping back into our usual competition routine.”

Newlands explained the typical daily schedule for the boys. “When we wake up we take our heart rate, then we do an activity together to get our appetite up and get the day started. Today we did some boxing to music for ten minutes which was a fun.

“If we’re doing weights like today, we will do our own specific programmes related to sevens, and the rest of the day involves a mixture of meetings, some more training, perhaps some media activity and we also have to fit in our physio appointments and compulsory rest.”

Both first timers at the Commonwealth Games, the multi-sporting environment in Delhi is a different experience for them but it is one they are relishing.

“We are normally just around rugby guys when we compete and now there are an awful lot more athletes around. Everyone’s trying to work out who is from the various sports and we’re meeting lots of new people. It’s a massive honour to be part of this event and we can’t wait until the Games start,” Newlands concluded.

The routine continues now for the next ten days, with a few warm-up matches planned against non-pool opponents, before the two day competition commences on 11 October at Delhi University. The Scots have a tough pool, including reigning Commonwealth gold medallists New Zealand, but they are aiming high and hoping to continue their fine form from the IRB series where they reached the semi-final of their home event in Edinburgh last May.