In the Sport Focus spotlight this week is Rugby 7s, as Scotland kicked off their World Series campaign in Dubai over the weekend and will be back on the field this coming weekend (9-10 Dec) at the second Series event in Cape Town. All eyes will be on the Robina Stadium on 13-15 April 2018 as Team Scotland aim for their first ever team sport medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Our Sport Focus Series features each of the 18 sports on the Gold Coast 2018 programme through athlete interviews, facts & figures, competition news and more.

Rugby 7s at the Commonwealth Games

Rugby 7s made its Commonwealth Games debut at Kuala Lumpur 1998 but it was four years later in Manchester that Scotland took to the field for the first time. Now one of the 10 core sports which must be included at every Games, Rugby 7s is a hugely popular addition to the sports programme with a record 171,000 spectators flocking to watch the action live at Glasgow 2014.

Women’s Rugby 7s will be included at the Commonwealth Games for the first time at Gold Coast 2018.

Find out more about Rugby 7s in the Commonwealth Games, including the competition format, rules and equipment on our dedicated Rugby 7s page.

Team Scotland 2018

Team Scotland Rugby 7s are set to make their fifth Games appearance, having been confirmed as one of the 16 teams awarded a place in the Men’s competition at Gold Coast 2018. With a strong 2016/17 World Series season behind them, including a spectacular win at the season finale in London, they will be looking to improve on their 7th place finish from Glasgow 2014 and push for what would be Team Scotland’s first ever medal in a team sport.

A total of 68 athletes have been named to Team Scotland for Gold Coast 2018 to date, with athletes announced in Boxing, Lawn Bowls, Shooting, Squash, Swimming, Triathlon and Weightlifting.

Further selections, including the final selection of Rugby 7s players, will take place in February 2018.

Show Your Support!

You can show your support by uploading photos and messages on our supporters page and give Team Scotland’s athletes a boost as they prepare to do the country proud on one of sport’s biggest stages!

Look out for other ways to get behind the team in the countdown to Gold Coast on Team Scotland’s social media channels.

Scotland at the Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games is the only occasion where Scotland gets to compete in a multi-sport event as a nation in its own right and is one of only six countries to have competed in every Commonwealth Games since their inception in Hamilton in 1930. Represented by 15 athletes participating in six sports at those first Games, winning a very creditable 10 medals, Scotland have gone on to win medals at every Games since.

Edinburgh became the first city to hold the Games twice in 1970 and 1986 and also became the first city to host the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Scotland hosted the Games for a third time when Glasgow welcomed athletes and officials to the XXth Commonwealth Games which was held from 23rd July – 3rd August 2014. Team Scotland celebrated their most successful Games in history, winning a total of 53 medals.

Find out more about the Commonwealth Games and Team Scotland’s past success in our Past Games section.