YOUNG SCOTS STEP UP FOR SIX NATIONS TOURNAMENT


Scotland Under 18 step up their preparations early next month for a momentous year, which will culminate in the inaugural Six Nations Under-18 tournament being hosted in Scotland.

The first stage of preparations included a high performance training camp at Limerick in early summer followed by the week-long Struan training camp in Perthshire. Now there is to be a two-day camp at Murrayfield on 3 and 4 January to which 38 players are being invited.

Twelve of the 38 are national academy players and a number have won promotion from last season’s Scotland Under 17 squad.

Colin Robertson, Scotland Under 18 head coach, said: “The national squad will be finalised following the Inter-District Championship in February/March. Thereafter we will play four games against the Boys Club of Wales, Irish Youth, England and France Schools, before we compete in the 6 Nations Festival against England, Italy and Wales in April.

“Though we’ve selected 38 for the camp, we don’t exclude any players from final selection, as the district championship will be a further opportunity for all players to show us what they can offer.

“Having the 6 Nations in Scotland is a huge incentive and a great opportunity for our promising young players.”

Scotland Under 18 squad for training camp at Murrayfield 3 and 4 January 2007

Backs:

Full-backs – Peter Horne (Bell Baxter HS/Howe of Fife), Steven Aitken (Ellon), Fraser Thomson (Galashiels Academy/Gala)*, Grant Anderson (Greenock Wanderers)*

Wings – Neil McColm (Hawick Wands), Craig Findlater (Highland), Callum Cockburn (North Berwick HS)

Centres – David Lawson (Ivybridge Colts), Paul Loudon (Edinburgh Accies)*, Robbie Johnston (Newark), Lee Armstrong (Hawick PSA), Steven Wilson (Bell Baxter HS/Howe of Fife)*

Stand-offs – Andrew White (Annan), James Reekie (Tynedale Colts), Robbie McGowan (Stirling County)

Scrum-halves – Peter Jericevich (Aberdeen GSFP)*, Andrew Dymock (High School of Dundee)*, Robert Paterson (Loretto)

Forwards

Props – Cameron Godfrey (Merchiston Castle School), Grant Shiels (Kelso Harlequins), David Morton (Bristol Academy/Fulton College), Craig Hogg (Galashiels Academy/Gala Wands), Gavin Cameron (Hawick HS/Hawick Wands)*, Callum McConnachie (Hillhead/Jordanhill)

Hookers – Fraser Brown (Merchiston Castle School), Ryan McConnell (Peebles HS)

Locks – Richard Gray (Glasgow Hawks)*, Fraser Galbraith (George Watson’s College), Andrew Hutchinson (Stokeley), James Taylor (Merchiston Castle School), Mark Anderson (Kirkby Lonsdale)

Flankers – Tom Drennan (Trinity Academy/BATS)*, Shaun Dougall (West Hartlepool), Chris Fusaro (Bell Baxter HS/Howe of Fife), Neil Rodgers (Haddington)*

No 8s – Ross Gibson (Hawick HS/Hawick PSA)*, Logan Neave (Robert Gordon’s College), Chris Mason (Bell Baxter HS/Howe of Fife)*

* = Member of National Academy

Manager – Euan Kennedy
Assistant manager – Paul Kesterton
Head coach – Colin Robertson
Assistant coaches – Graham Marshall and Alex Duncan
Fitness – Val Houston



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This article was posted on 1-Dec-2006, 23:29 by Hugh Barrow.