Scotland under-20 head coach, Peter Wright, has today named his team to play against England under-20 at Firhill on Friday night (3 February) in their RBS 6 Nations opener, kick-off 7.30pm.
Four players return to the under-20 set-up hoping their experience will help the new blood at this age-grade level.
Edinburgh Rugby’s Robin Hislop will captain the side, with Harry Leonard, Alex Allan and Mitch Eadie all returning to the starting line-up having played in last year's competition.
 
The match, which is FREE for spectators, also sees second-row Jonny Gray make his under-20s debut having been promoted from Scotland under-18.  Also starting will be  Tomasso Allan, who plays at Western Province in South Africa and whose uncle, John Allan, played both in the dark blue of Scotland and for South Africa.
Wright is well aware of the challenge that Friday’s match will bring but he knows his men can begin their campaign with a flying start against the Auld Enemy.
 
He said: “We have had a strong pool of players who have trained well in preparation for the RBS 6 Nations championship. This has made selection for the England match difficult.
 
“I have included four guys who were involved last year who will bring leadership and experience to the side. The others, particularly Gray and Adam Sinclair, have all earned their places on merit, performing their way into contention.
 
“The England game will be a huge battle, but we have players who will bring pace and physicality to the match.
 
“On the bench we have another pool of talent, some of whom have pro-experience, and who will come on fast and strong.”
The Scotland under-20 team to play England under-20 on Friday 3 February at Firhill Stadium at 7.30pm is as follows:
 
15 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Scotland 7s / Heriot’s)
 
14 Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Rugby / Edinburgh Accies)
13 Robbie Fergusson (Ayr)
12 Tomasso Allan (Western Province)
11 Michael Crawley (Boroughmuir)
 
10 Harry Leonard (Edinburgh Rugby)
9 Jack Steele (Dundee HSFP)
 
1 Robin Hislop (Edinburgh Rugby / Boroughmuir) (captain)
2 Fergus Scott (Currie)
3 Alex Allan (Loughborough Students)
4 Jonny Gray (Hamilton)
5 Adam Sinclair (Stirling County)
6 Mitch Eadie (Bristol Rugby)
7 Will Bordill (Sale Sharks)
8 Jamie Swanson (Boroughmuir)
 
16 George Turner (Edinburgh Rugby / Stewart’s Melville)
17 Jamie Bhatti (Stirling County)
18 Andrew Redmayne (Dundee HSFP)
19 Callum Reid (Edinburgh Accies)
20 Struan Cessford (Heriot’s)
21 Murray McConnell (Glasgow Warriors / Ayr)
22 Finn Russell (Falkirk)
23 Tom Steven (Glasgow Hawks)
Scotland under-20 RBS 6 Nations 2011/12 fixtures:
Friday 10 February 2012
Parc Eirias – Wales under-20 v Scotland under-20, Time TBC
 
Friday 24 February 2012
Netherdale - Scotland under-20 v France under-20, 7.30pm
 
Friday 9 March 2012
Dubarry Park – Ireland under-20 v Scotland under-20, 7.05pm
 
Friday 16 March
Calvisano – Italy under-20 v Scotland under-20, 6pm

This article was posted on 31-Jan-2012, 10:52 by Hugh Barrow.