A REGIONAL select team will return to action during the close season.

The famous South of Scotland will compete in two major sevens tournaments during the summer.

And the South will also field a development squad, for the first time, at this weekend's Walkerburn Sevens.

Fraser Harkness and Darren Cunningham will be in charge of the squad for the inaugural Edinburgh 7s tournament which takes place on Saturday, June 2 at Inverleith.

The tournament has attracted a high quality of elite teams made up of some of the top 7s players on the circuit, including The Projecx Waterboys, Commonwealth Crusaders and The EC7 Powerbombs.

The South will also be taking part again in the Chester 7s tournament on June 16.

The Development side will take to the field at this Saturday’s Walkerburn 7s, and will include two senior players as well as eight of the most talented youngsters in the South of Scotland.

Andrew Skeen has been named as captain of The South team, while Nik Stingl will lead out the development side at Walkerburn.

Head coach Fraser Harkness said: “Keeping alive The South name is important and with 7s being such a huge tradition in the area it is good to be able to send a team to these prestigious tournaments as well as bringing on new boys to experience the culture of The South.

"Everyone who wears the South jersey knows how special it is and the history that goes with it.

“We felt that Walkerburn would be a good tournament for us to look at some of the young talent that has been playing in the semi junior 7s, with a view to maybe picking them for some tournaments later on in the summer.

"With the mix we have we hope to do very well. While undeniably talented, most of the squad have never really played senior rugby so for them it will be great to get involved and use it as a stepping stone heading into senior rugby next season. It will be exciting to see these young kids having a go and we would like to thank Walkerburn RFC for the invite.

"With predicted good weather it should be an exciting tournament.”

The South development squad have been drawn against Ross High in Round 1 of the Walkerburn 7s this Saturday, and if they progress will face the winners of the tie between Barnton and Hawick Linden - two clubs who have performed well in the East League this season.

The following week at the Edinburgh 7s, The South squad will be in one of two pools of four, playing matches against The EC7 Powerbombs, Rex Club Red Kites and Team Tusker.

Team manager Neil Hinnigan added: “This will be something different for the youngsters and they are all looking forward to the opportunity.

"The squad has been selected carefully from clubs not involved at Walkerburn and these clubs were informed and a request put in with regards player availability.

"There is a good mix in the squad of 10 and I hope they gel quickly. We have excellent coaches in Fraser Harkness and Darren Cunningham and this is about enjoyment and progression. We hope all involved will get a lot out of this.”

The South squad for the Edinburgh 7s:

Andrew Skeen (Kelso)

Ally Grieve (Melrose)

Callum Marshall (Selkirk)

Bruce Colvine (Melrose)

Lewis Young (Jedforest)

Darren Clapperton (Selkirk)

Robbie Chalmers (Edinburgh Accies)

Rory Marshall (Jedforest)

Ross Combe (Hawick)

Callum Young (Jedforest)

Ross Nixon (Selkirk)

The South development squad

Nik Stingl (Kelso)

Callum Renwick (Hawick U18s)

Ryan Cottrell (Selkirk YC)

Cammy Brown (Kelso Harlequins)

Andrew Mitchell (Hawick U18s)

Lewis Ferguson (Hawick)

Connor Gillon (Kelso)

Iain Davidson (Selkirk YC)

Ross Combe (Hawick)

Fraser Harkness (Jedforest)