Scottish Rugby is pleased to announce today that the Scotland Club International team, who make their debut in Ireland later this week, are to be sponsored by leading fund manager, Standard Life Investments.




Scotland Club International
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John Donnelly, Head of Commercial and Marketing at the SRU said: "There is a tremendous buzz across Scottish Rugby at present and it is a boost to the game as a whole that a blue chip global investment company, of Standard Life Investments’ standing, has come on board to support the Scotland Club International team."

Keith Skeoch, Chief Executive at Standard Life Investments, said: "As an Englishman, it’s obvious to me that Scottish rugby is on the up. The Scottish club sides have traditionally been renowned for producing some great talent in the world of rugby. We are delighted to support the strength of talent involved in this match not least because two of our people are actively involved in the current squad and I wish them every success."

The club international is an initiative that has been welcomed warmly in both Scotland and Ireland. Gary Parker, head coach of the Scotland Club International team, said: "Professional rugby is moving forward at 100 miles an hour and the creation of the club international team creates a tremendous opportunity for club players. The advent of professionalism has meant for many players it became simply a pipedream to think of playing for their country - a dream outwith their reach. Now there’s a massive opportunity. When I was a player I wanted to play for Scotland. As a coach I want to coach Scotland. This for me is all about giving a group of players the chance to represent Scotland."

Scotland Club International team (sponsor Standard Life Investments) to play Ireland Club International team on Friday 10 March at Donnybrook, Dublin (kick-off 7.35pm)

15 Michael Adamson (Glasgow Hawks)
14 Mark Robertson (Melrose)
13 Jamie Murray (Melrose)
12 Stewart Smith (Glasgow Hawks)
11 Rory Couper (Boroughmuir)
10 Murray Strang (Glasgow Hawks)
9 Calum Cusiter (Boroughmuir)
1 Bruce McNeil (Hawick)
2 Wayne Mitchell (Melrose)
3 Moray Low (Aberdeen GSFP)
4 Bruce MacFarlane (Stirling County)
5 Richie Maxton (Glasgow Hawks)
6 Tam McVie (Heriot’s) CAPTAIN
8 Andy Dunlop (Biggar)
7 Angus Martyn (Boroughmuir)

Substitutes
16 David Cunningham (Boroughmuir)
17 Elliott McLaren (Biggar)
18 Sandy Warnock (Glasgow Hawks)
19 A Jamie Murray (Melrose)
20 Alasdhair McFarlane (Ayr)
21 Steven Duffy (Glasgow Hawks)
22 Richard Borthwick (Stewart’s-Melville FP)

Management - Head coach - Gary Parker (Biggar); Assistant coach - Bob McKillop (Stirling County); Manager - Grant Wilson (Boroughmuir); Doctor - Tom Beattie (Stewart’s-Melville FP); Physio - Sally Vint (Jed-Forest); Team attendant - Chico Woods (Jed-Forest)

The AIB Club International between Ireland and Scotland will be played at Donnybrook, Dublin on Friday 10 March (kick-off 7.35pm).

Notes to editors
1. Tam McVie, Regional Investment Sales Manager at Standard Life Investments will captain the team whilst Robert McKillop, Investment Director, Japanese Equities at the investment house, is the team’s assistant coach.
2. With assets under management of £118.8 billion Standard Life Investments is one of the UK’s major investment houses and controls around 1.8% of the UK stock market (31.12.05).
3. Standard Life Investments operates in the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland and the USA. Standard Life Investments also operates in India through a joint venture with HDFC AMC.
Player profiles for Scotland Club International team v Ireland on Friday 10 March at Donnybrook, Dublin (kick-off 7.35pm)

MICHAEL ADAMSON (Glasgow Hawks) - Full Back. Born 17 May 1984 in Stirling. 5ft 8ins, 11st 4lbs. Mike is a former pupil of Dollar Academy and is currently studying physiology and sports science at Glasgow University. He has helped Glasgow Hawks to three successive championship titles in the BT Premiership and also to the BT Cup in 2004. He has represented Scotland at under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels, playing in the IRB u-21 World Championship in Argentina last year.

MARK ROBERTSON (Melrose) - Wing. Born 30 December 1984 in Galashiels. 6ft 2ins, 14st. Mark has represented Scotland Sevens during the IRB circuit this season. His father, Keith, won 44 caps for Scotland between 1978 and 1989. A former pupil of Earlston HS, Mark studies sport and exercise science at Napier University in Edinburgh.

JAMIE MURRAY (Melrose) - Centre. Born 4 February 1981 in Edinburgh. 6ft 2ins, 14st. Jamie Donald William Murray went on from Earlston High School to study at the Scottish Agricultural College. He now works as a property manager. He has represented the Borders at under-19, under-20 and Development levels.

STEWART SMITH (Glasgow Hawks) - Centre. Born 17 January 1983 in Glasgow. 6ft 3ins, 15st 6lbs. Stewart is a former pupil of Glasgow Academy who has played club and representative rugby in New Zealand. He was with the Fraser Tech club in Hamilton and has appeared for Waikato under-21 and Waikato B over the last two summers. At home he has represented Scotland under-18 A and been part of the Glasgow Hawks triple championship triumph. He is a car dealer with Glasgow Trading Company Limited.

RORY COUPER (Boroughmuir) - Wing. Born 6 June, 1980 in Irvine. 5ft 11ins, 14st. Rory Watson Couper is the former captain of the Scotland under-19 team who beat England in the 1999 FIRA Junior World Championship. Rory has gone on to represent Scotland at under-21 and sevens, having also played for Glasgow District and the Edinburgh Gunners. A former pupil of Ardrossan Academy and student at Edinburgh University, Rory has sampled club rugby in New Zealand and South Africa. He is a health advisor with BUPA at Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh.

MURRAY STRANG (Glasgow Hawks) - Stand-off. Born 3 December 1981 in Glasgow. 6ft 3ins, 14st 10lbs. Murray Cameron Strang played for Aberdeen GSFP while he was studying land economy at Aberdeen University. He now works as a surveyor with Ryden LLP. His brother Grant has played in the back-row for Scotland at under-18 and under-21. Murray himself is a former pupil of Glasgow Academy and has represented both Scottish and British Universities.

CALUM CUSITER (Boroughmuir) - Scrum-half. Born 21 October 1980 in Aberdeen. 5ft 7ins, 13st 7lbs. Calum has played for Scotland at under-16, schools, under-19 and under-21 levels and has been part of the Edinburgh Gunners’ back-up squad. His younger brother is the Scotland internationalist, Chris Cusiter, while his dad, Stan, represented North and Midlands. Calum studied at Robert Gordon’s College and Edinburgh University and now is a chartered accountant with Ernst and Young.

BRUCE McNEIL (Hawick) - Prop. Born 15 June 1983 in Stranraer. 6ft 2ins, 16st 2lbs. Bruce previously played his club rugby with Wigtownshire and won age-grade honours for Glasgow from under-16 through to under-21. He is a former pupil of Stranraer Academy and works as a manager with home improvement firm John Rae Limited in Hawick.

WAYNE MITCHELL (Melrose) - Hooker. Born 23 June 1979 in Edinburgh. 5ft 7½ins, 15st 6lbs. Wayne, a contracts manager for a fencing company in the Scottish Borders, attended Earlston High School and has played for Scotland at under-18, under-19 and under-21.

MORAY LOW (Aberdeen GSFP) - Prop. Born 28 November 1984 in Torphins. 6ft 2ins, 19st. Moray John Low was one of the success stories for Scotland in last year’s IRB Under-21 World Championship in Argentina scoring two tries and bringing massive solidity to the Scots’ scrum. A former pupil at Lossiemouth High School who played previously with the Highland and Aboyne clubs, Moray is a labourer with Accommodation Service Management.

BRUCE MacFARLANE (Stirling County) - Lock. Born 10 January 1981 in Stirling. 6ft 5ins, 17st 8lbs. Bruce David MacFarlane attended Wallace HS in Stirling and Glasgow University. He has played for Scotland at u-18, u-19 and u-21 and helped Stirling County to the Scottish u-18 title and, at senior level, to two BT Premier Division 2 titles. He works as an accountant with MacFarlane Gray.

RICHIE MAXTON (Glasgow Hawks) - Lock. Born 5 June, 1979 in Glasgow. 6ft 6ins, 16st 6lbs. Richie has previously played his club rugby with Hamilton and Stewart’s-Melville FP. He attended Hamilton GS and Edinburgh University where he studied politics and modern history. He is now a history teacher. His representative rugby honours have included Scotland u-19, u-21 and Scottish Students. His father is the former Labour MP, John Maxton.

TAM McVIE (Heriot’s) - Flanker. CAPTAIN. Born 7 June 1975 in Edinburgh. 6ft 4ins, 15st 8lbs. Tammas McVie was a mainstay of Heriot’s championship successes in 1999 and 2000 and has been a consistent presence in their back-row for almost a decade. He has played for Scottish Schools, Scotland u-19 and u-21 and with Edinburgh District and with Edinburgh Reivers in the fledgling years of open rugby. A former pupil of Edinburgh Academy, Tam is a sales manager with Standard Life Investments.

ANDY DUNLOP (Biggar) - No 8. Born 16 December 1983 in Lanark. 6ft 2ins, 15st 2lbs. Andrew Robert Matthew Dunlop is a former winner of the BT Premier Division Two player of the year award and has won Scotland honours at under-18 and under-21 levels. He studied at Peebles HS and sport and exercise science at Napier University in Edinburgh. He is now a self-employed contractor.

GUS MARTYN (Boroughmuir) - Flanker. Born 11 October 1979 in Durban, South Africa. 6ft, 14st. Angus Forbes Martyn won four caps for Scotland under-21 in 1999 and has been a stalwart of the Boroughmuir club, helping them to their BT cup success in 2005. He played for South African Schools before coming to Scotland. He works as an instructor at Marco’s Gym in Edinburgh.

DAVID CUNNINGHAM (Boroughmuir) - Hooker. Born 28 October 1973 in Haddington. 5ft 11ins, 15st 6lbs. David George Cunningham is a Detective Constable in Lothian and Borders Police. A former pupil of Knox Academy in Haddington, he played for the Haddington club before joining Boroughmuir. He has captained the British Police, been part of the Edinburgh Gunners’ back-up squad and also played for Scotland at u-18, u-19 and u-21.

ELLIOTT McLAREN (Biggar) - Prop. Born 15 April 1981 in Lanark. 5ft 11ins, 17st 7lbs. Elliott is studying primary teaching at Strathclyde University, having enrolled there from Lanark Grammar School. He has played for Scotland at under-19 level and has also come through the Edinburgh District age-grade structure.

SANDY WARNOCK (Glasgow Hawks) -
Lock/Back-row. Born 18 September 1984 in West Lothian. 6ft 4ins, 16st 4lbs. Sandy won a Scotland under-21 cap last year having moved to Glasgow Hawks from the Linlithgow club. A former pupil of Broxburn Academy, he is now studying mechanical engineering at Strathclyde University.

JAMIE MURRAY (Melrose) - Back-row. Born 4 March 1979 in Hexham. 6ft 2ins, 16st. Alistair James Murray is a farmer who qualifies for Scotland through a paternal grandfather from Nairn. He has played for Scotland sevens and enjoyed a previous stint with the Tynedale club before enlisting at Melrose.

ALASDHAIR McFARLANE (Ayr) - Scrum-half. Born 29 August 1984 in Cape Town, South Africa. 5ft 10ins, 13st 2lbs. Alasdhair has previously played his club rugby with Hillhead/Jordanhill and GHA and won 12 caps for Scotland under-21 over the previous two seasons. He graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University and is now a trainee quantity surveyor with McCarthy and Stone.

STEVEN DUFFY (Glasgow Hawks) - Centre. Born 16 April 1980 in Irvine. 5ft 11½ins, 13st 7lbs. Steve has helped Glasgow Hawks to a hat-trick of league titles. Formerly with Ardrossan Accies he played for Scotland under-19 and has appeared for Glasgow at all age-grades including senior). He is an electrical design engineer with Hulley and Kirkwood.

RICHARD BORTHWICK (Stewart’s-Melville FP) - Full-back. Born 10 May 1984 in Edinburgh. 5ft 11ins, 13st 7lbs. Richard James Borthwick has played for Scotland under-18A and under-19 and is a member of the Edinburgh Gunners’ back-up squad. A former pupil of Stewart’s-Melville College, he studies English literature and history at Edinburgh University and works part-time as the duty manager at Mary Erskine Sports Centre. His father, Gil, sprinted for Scotland and played rugby for Heriot’s.

This article was posted on 9-Mar-2006, 08:58 by Hugh Barrow.