With less than one month to go until the opening ceremony of Seventh Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago 2023, the final athletes representing Team Scotland in the Rugby 7s have now been confirmed. A total of 49 Scottish athletes will travel to Trinidad and Tobago and compete in competition from the 4-11 August 2023.
The 13 named Rugby 7s players, aged 17 and 18 years old, will compete for Team Scotland alongside athletes from the six other sports on the Trinidad and Tobago programme: Netball, Beach Volleyball, Triathlon, Athletics, Cycling and Swimming.
Rugby 7s is a fast paced, high tempo game, played with 7s players a side, for two seven-minute halves. With more room to roam and little time to waste, the result is a version of rugby that is shorter, faster, and higher scoring. The squad selected will be sure to step up to the challenge and aim to make their mark on the international stage.
The Rugby 7s competition will take place at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex on the island of Tobago and will be contested by Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Jamaica, Scotland, Fiji and South Africa.
The concept of the Youth Games was created by Scotland in 2000 with the aim of developing young athletes and giving them an early experience of an international multi-sport environment. The event now has a proven track record of uncovering future champions at senior level, with athletes such as Hannah Miley, Eilish McColgan and Josh Taylor competing at Youth Games before going on to senior success.
Team Scotland 2023 will depart for Trinidad and Tobago on the 1st August, ready to make the most of the multi-sport Games experience and aiming to follow in the footsteps of previous Team Scotland Youth Games athletes.
Congratulating the athletes on their selection, Chef de Mission, Chris Purdie, said, “I am delighted to welcome the 13 Rugby 7s players to Team Scotland, who now make up the complete Scotland delegation heading out to Trinidad and Tobago. With the final athletes confirmed and our Team Camp having taken place, the excitement and anticipation of the games is very high. The hard work and dedication that all of these athletes have put in to get here is fantastic and all truly deserve this opportunity to represent their country on the world stage.”
Craig Dods, who will manage the Rugby 7s team heading out to Trinidad and Tobago, said, “We’re delighted to confirm the 13-player squad that have been selected to represent Team Scotland at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games. The 13 boys will now take part in an intensive month-long programme before flying out at the start of August.”
“All players selected have been part of the FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy or involved with our SQ programme. Six members of the team represented Scotland at the U18 Six Nations Festival in Dublin earlier this year. I’m excited to see how this group of players progress in the coming weeks and watch them compete on the international stage.”
Johnny Ventisei, Captain the Scotland side, said, “I’m over the moon to be asked to captain this team at Trinbago 2023. I’m buzzing to represent Team Scotland with the rest of the boys in a once in a lifetime multi-sport games experience in an incredible location.”
Full Team List
Fergus Watson, 17
Ben Morriss, 17
Joe Townshend, 17
Jack Craig, 17
Fergus Wood, 18
Robbie Baird, 18
Matthew Urwin, 18
Jack Hocking, 18
Hugo Alderson, 17
Johnny Ventisei ©, 18
Benjamin Roger, 18
Ross Birnie, 18
Ritchie Mitchell, 17
Craig Dods (Head Coach)